Locals unite in opposition to weir changes

Over 70 locals attendend the meeting.

Community opposition was loud and unanimous at public meetings in Tilpa and Louth last week, with over 75 locals gathering to voice their rejection of the NSW Government’s plans to lower weirs as part of the Fish Passage: Reconnecting the Northern Basin Project.

The sessions, postponed previously due to weather conditions, were hosted by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, were held to explain the proposal to cut 100 millimetres from the height of the Louth and Tilpa weirs to allow fish passage. But from locals, the message was clear – water security cannot be compromised. Both meetings became heated at times, with residents stressing that lowering the weirs would be disastrous for their communities.

Louth landholder and long-time river advocate Garry Mooring said the community was united in its opposition. He explained that neither Louth nor Tilpa residents were prepared to accept any reduction in the weir height, describing the proposal as unacceptable. While locals were not opposed to the principle of fish passage, he said, they were “all in favour of it but not at the expense of our water security.”

Mr Mooring also questioned the accuracy of information provided by the department, pointing out that the weirs were not built in the 1950s as had been suggested, and warning that cutting into the concrete structure would only weaken it further.

“If the weir does fail, the chances of us getting another are pretty minimal,” he said. […]

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