While it seemed a decision to stop the proposed new dam at Dunoon was done and dusted, a recission motion lodged by three Rous County Councillors will see dam discussions back on the local water authority’s agenda in 2021.

Rous County Council chair Keith Williams said the recission motion was lodged by the councillors who voted against the decision to not build the new dam - Crs Cadwallader, Mustow and Humphreys.

Cr Williams said the recission motion means that nothing can yet happen in terms of implementing the resolution to pursue ground water and recycled water options, instead of building a new dam. Instead, the decision will be discussed and reconsidered at Rous County Council’s February meeting.

Read the previous story: Councillors vote to stop Dunoon dam at Rous meeting

Land use

“The recission motion was mainly in relation to the future disposal and use of land that Rous owns on the site,” he said. “They are not disputing the decision to pursue groundwater options.

“Those moving the recission motion want to hang onto the site land in case they find out things don’t work out with water options and can bring back the dam idea in future, if needed.

“I won’t be supporting that - I think we made a decision and we need to move on.

“I think the recission is not tenable because there are other issues that need to be considered in the area – like issues around Indigenous cultural heritage. The views of traditional custodians are important.

Widjabul Wia-bal Elder John Roberts wants no dam in Dunoon. Read the previous story: Elders say 'no dam', as future water discussed at tonight's Rous County Council meeting

Traditional Owners

In the lead up the Council’s decision to stop the dam, local Widjabul Wia-bal Elders expressed their opposition to the dam, saying the land had major importance to local Aboriginal people. Any land use for Traditional Owners would need to be negotiated and made legal in the future.

“If we move toward Indigenous land use agreements, we need to look at best management and negotiation,” Cr Williams said.

“Native Title law is complex and land use agreements and legal mechanisms are negotiated and certified by the court over many years.”

Farmland and ecological significance

Cr Williams also said that if the dam was not to proceed, then there were also parcels of land owned by Rous that had no cultural heritage significance.

“Rous would need to decide what to do with that and it could be sold so someone could use it as farmland.

“There are also areas of ecological significance and we would need to talk to the State Government and Indigenous people about those areas.”

Future Water

Cr Williams said he was keen to progress with the water efficiency programs and look into managing water loss better by installing smart meters across the Rous County Council area water meters.

“We are really trying to up our game,” he said. “We already put several million into water efficiency measures and have already made a number of announcements that were part of our decision to progress ground and recycled water use.

“We want to progress a pilot for recycled water for the Perrandenya Estate development in Caniaba. Not one other water utility has licences for the potable reuse of water.

“We have the opportunity to be the first one to lead the State.”