EXPANSION NEEDED: Lachlan Shire Mayor John Medcalf and the CNSWJO believe Wyangala Dam is still a priority for the NSW Government. Photo courtesy of the Cowra Phoenix – Josh Matic.
The Chair of Central NSW Joint Organisation of Council (CNSWJO), Cr John Medcalf, OAM has hit back at claims that the NSW Government is stepping away from the Wyangala Dam expansion project in favour of non-infrastructure options to secure water supplies in the Lachlan River and broader Central West.
“How quickly people forget that little over 12 months ago many of our communities faced a day-zero crisis with town water supplies fast running out,” said Cr Medcalf, Chair of the Central NSW Joint Organisation and Mayor of the Lachlan Shire Council.
“Minister for Water, Melinda Pavey has been a strong supporter of the Wyangala Dam project and the region’s Mayors have welcomed her vision and solution focus,” he said.
“While supportive of non-infrastructure options, the reality is that we know from the many studies done to date that there is a limit to what these can achieve in securing town water supplies.”
Medcalf believes increased storage is needed so we can store water during times of good rain to prepare for drought.
“It’s disappointing given all the talk about working collaboratively with regional NSW on risks to town water supplies that the bureaucrats have not spoken to us about these non-infrastructure solutions being investigated. Maybe they need to be out in the region to experience our pain. We cannot afford to back away from the Wyangala Dam expansion. We owe it to our communities.”
