Wilcannia rejectsstate government weir redesign

Badger Bates urging the Minister to stick with the original Wilcannia Weir Design. Photo TWH

Objections to the redesign of the Wilcannia weir have galvanised the local community, meaning Water Minister, Rose Jackson, received a clear message when she came to town last week.

“We had Minister for Water in Wilcannia to talk about the community’s feelings toward the redesign of the proposed weir,” Central Darling Shire administrator, Bob Stewart said.

Ms Jackson is also NSW Minister for Housing, Homelessness, Mental Health and Youth.

Residents endorsed the original weir design put to the community over two years ago.

This was soon followed by community anxiety and scepticism when they were told of a shock redesign which, among other things, reduces the weir height by one metre, and the amount of stored water from 2,000 megalitres to just 400 megalitres.

Community feedback during consultation has unanimously supported the higher weir in the original design and Wilcannia residents were keen to have their opinions heard during the Minister’s visit.

“We started with a luncheon and a meet and greet in the park, where Minister Jackson met with community members and had a yarn about their concerns about the weir,” Mr Stewart said.

“There was about 50 people in the park, who put their views forward and then we went back to the council chambers and met with the action group that comprises the Australian Floodplain Association, landowners above and downstream of Wilcannia, the Wilcannia Tourist Association, the Wilcannia Local Aboriginal Land Council and members of the Aboriginal community.”

“At the end of the day, the Minister understood the community’s concerns,” Mr Stewart said.” […]

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