With the Dunoon Dam looking an unlikely option in our water security plans for the future, a group of concerned community members has started a petition to ensure that all future water options are on the table for the region, including a dam at Dunoon. 

The Lismore App received the following statement from the newly formed Our Future Northern Rivers group. We aim to present all sides of the water security argument by giving you as much information as possible so you can make informed decisions.

Rous County Councillors voted last year to withdraw the preferred cost-effective dam option after just 0.9 % of the community responded to the information presented in the previous public exhibition period (1298 submissions during the public exhibition period, which is less than 1% of our regional population). 

Here is a short video for context (3mins) 

Citizens are shocked that the cost of water to households and businesses will be double that of the dam option if Rous County Council chooses to follow the current path chosen by 5 councillors in December 2020. 

It is estimated that the Dunoon Dam will secure our water supply past the year 2100 and ensure resilience through four years of drought at current consumption levels. 

“Our Future Northern Rivers” has formed to say loudly that we do not want our local aquifers plundered unnecessarily, and we do not want to be drinking or showering in toilet to tap recycled water. 

Our Future NR wants the Dunoon Dam option to be reintroduced into the Future Water Strategy and investigated as a potential reliable, cost-effective water source. 

Our Future NR will be circulating printed and emailed petitions in the coming weeks to gather community support against these alternative options for our region. They are asking the community to spread the word and make their voices be heard.  

“The Northern Rivers is consistently one of the wettest areas of NSW” said Austin Curtin, Tregeagle farmer and spokesman for Our Future Northern Rivers. 

“Why do we continue to watch all this rainfall across the catchments and let it run on out to sea?” he said. 

“This is quality drinking water in its purest form and can be used to secure our prosperity into the future.” “Let’s protect and conserve our groundwater as a matter of priority.”  

“We should retain this water in the upper catchment where it falls rather than opt for the alternatives that come at great cost to the water ratepayer and do not suit our region. It defies logic” Mr Curtin said. 

Background:  

In December 2020, the continuation of investigations into the feasibility of Rous County Council’s proposed Dunoon Dam was voted against by 5 of 8 councillors. This vote removed the proposed Dunoon dam from the Future Water Project 2060.  

In April 2021, Rous County Council released the revised strategy chosen by the 5 councillors to secure a permanent water supply for the Byron, Ballina, Lismore and Richmond Valley local government areas. This strategy is open for community consultation and feedback. 

The strategy is a detailed, 153-page document. Without the option for a dam and surface water, future water supply for the region as per the strategy will be supplied by groundwater drawn from aquifers, a proposed desalination plant and potable recycled water. In simple terms, taking waste and sewage water from homes, recycling and filtering it into potable drinking water. 

The current Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy (Future Water Project 2060) is open for public exhibition and community consultation from 1 April 2021 – 28th May 2021. 

https://rous.nsw.gov.au/future-water-for-our-region 

Who is Our Future Northern Rivers? (“Our Future NR”) 

Our Future NR is a community group of like-minded people who would like to see the Northern Rivers develop and grow into a prosperous region.  

Our Future NR’s mission is to educate the entire community with fact-based evidence and encourage all opinions, voices and ideas be included in discussions regarding a wide range of local issues not limited to water security, flood mitigation, flood management and local government matters in the Northern Rivers, NSW.