Tenterfield Shire Council, New South Wales, Mayor Peter Pretty, was dancing for rain last September, so it was with great pleasure he announced the Shire’s new bore had struck water.
“Council started the process of planning for this moment well before Christmas 2018.
“We’ve been through many, many challenges and even more frustrations along the way, but we got there.”
While thanking the community for showing resilience, patience and diligence in working with Council to conserve water over the last 12 months, he said water restrictions would remain in place until the connection between the new bore and the dam was complete.
An equally jubilant, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Terry Dodds, said, “In the last 24 hours during testing we’ve seen 13 litres per second flow from a bore behind the Transport Museum. Initial observations show that the production rate will be about 10 litres second.
“Best of all the source isn’t far from the dam where it will be pumped. This is fantastic news for our community, our economy, and visitors alike.”
The Mayor thanked The Hon Melinda Pavey MP, Minister for Water, Property and Housing, and her staff, for their help.
“With support from Janelle Saffin MP, Melinda pushed through amendments to the Water Management (General) Regulation 2018 in August that allowed us to cut through months and months of red tape.
“I’d also like to thank the Cross Border Commissioner and Regional Towns Water Supply Coordinator, Mr James McTavish, who has stuck with us the whole way.”
The Mayor gave special thanks to staff of the Natural Resources Access Regulator at Dubbo and the Department of Industry – Water, at Coffs Harbour.
“I’d also like to thank all Council staff who’ve worked tirelessly to achieve this wonderful result,” Mayor Petty added.
