Bourke Mayor takes weir concerns to Water Minister

Mayor of the Bourke Shire Barry Hollman in Parliament House Sydney with NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson. Photo TWH

Bourke Mayor Barry Hollman and General Manager of Bourke Shire Council Leonie Brown met at parliament House, Sydney, last week with the NSW Water Minister to express community concerns about the Louth and Bourke Weirs.

Concerned at the lack of consultation on a height reduction of the Louth Weir, Councillor Hollman put these concerns to the Minister and pushed for the long-requested increase in the height of the Bourke Weir.

Councillor Hollman said that the meeting was held just two days after the community consultation with residents from the Louth area, saying that those in attendance at Louth had no issue with proposals to construct a fishway at Louth to allow the passage of fish both up and down the Darling River.

“However all in attendance were unanimous and adamant that such a fishway should not be at the expense of the height of the existing weir at Louth, nor at the expense of the removal of weirs 19A and 20A between Bourke and Louth.”

Councillor Hollman advised the Minister that any lowering of the height of the Louth weir, or removal of weirs downstream of Bourke, would have a significant impact on the Louth community and those who access water from the Darling River for critical human needs.

“It’s fine to have fishways installed, but it can’t be at the expense of water for critical human needs.” Councillor Hollman noted. “Those who propose these works, who live far away from us, lose sight of the need for water for small rural localities,” he added.

Councillor Hollman said that while water is currently plentiful in the Darling River, shire residents are undoubtedly a day closer to dry times.

“If the height of a weir is reduced, the amount of water in the weir pool is decreased, which means less water for residents. It’s that simple,” Councillor Hollman said. […]

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