Intervalley pipeline plan causes concern

NSW government plans to bolster Tamworth’s water supply into the future should not come at the expense of surrounding communities, including Gunnedah shire, according to civic leaders.

Gunnedah Shire Council mayor Colleen Fuller said one of the options being considered as part of the Tamworth Intervalley Pipelines and Off-River Storages Project was construction of a new pipeline and pump stations to transfer water from Keepit Dam to Calala Water Treatment Plan.

“Water security is an essential part of all our communities and we recognise Tamworth’s need for a reliable and sustainable water supply as the region grows,” Cr Fuller said.

“But we must also consider the reliability and sustainability of the Gunnedah shire community’s water supply – including keeping water in Keepit Dam and not impacting on our agricultural community on the Namoi River. Keepit Dam is a critical part of the Namoi River system at the centre of Gunnedah shire.

“Water NSW’s own Keepit Dam fact sheets note that the dam’s primary use is for irrigation in the Namoi Valley and for town water supply for Walgett. The Namoi also provides the town water for Wee Waa. The water is used for cotton, lucerne, cereals, oilseed, wheat and vegetables – not to reinforce Tamworth’s water supply.

“Keepit is also a beautiful recreation and tourism feature of our shire and is a popular for boating, fishing, skiing, sailing, camping and many other activities.

“Gunnedah may be lucky enough to have a town supply based on bore water, but as we saw in the last drought, that is not a bottomless source. We must also ensure we look after our own community, our own primary producers and our own water requirements.

“We do not have enough information about this option to be sure it will not impact on our community. None of the recent community and stakeholder engagement activities were held in Gunnedah – they were all held in Tamworth, which has nothing to lose from this proposal.”

Cr Fuller called on the NSW government to engage fully with all stakeholders – not just those in Tamworth.

The Gunnedah & District Chamber of Commerce is also calling out the NSW government for its failure to engage the very communities most impacted by the proposed Keepit Dam to Tamworth pipeline. Chamber President CJ Baldry Adams has publicly condemned the so-called consultation process, describing it as deliberately narrow, poorly executed, and fundamentally misleading.

“For months, the chamber has been raising red flags around the lack of consultation, transparency, and due diligence,” said Ms Baldry Adams. “Despite water security being at the top of our agenda, Gunnedah and the wider Namoi Catchment was excluded entirely from the government’s engagement activities. These were confined to Tamworth, a city that stands only to benefit. That’s not genuine consultation. That’s a strategic omission.”