Some people have attacked the five Rous councillors who voted for 'water security through multiple options', but they failed to ask the most pertinent question. Why did Rous County Council staff expect the eight councillors to make such an important decision while apparently withholding vital information from them?

It was only when Water Northern Rivers, with assistance from Traditional Owners, showed them the Executive Summary of the Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment (commissioned by Rous CC) that most councillors realised the magnitude of the impact that construction of the Dunoon Dam would have on the Traditional Owners.

It was this information which changed the attitudes of the five councillors. They realised for the first time that this critical information was available and should have been released by Rous.

Failing to reveal this information in sufficient detail to the councillors has resulted in deep divisions between the eight Rous councillors, and in the wider community. It has been, at best, a serious lapse in judgement and responsibility by the Rous County Council General Managers since the first report was completed in 2011.

The information is detailed and culturally sensitive for the Widjabul Wia-bal, and it is right that the fine details were withheld, but the Executive Summary should have been released to the councillors to inform their decision making.

The Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment has now been released on the Rous website for those who want to become informed.

A decade has been wasted. Let us all encourage Rous staff to get on with the strategy as voted on by the councillors last December '20 and ratified in July '21.

Hugh Nicholson

The Channon