THE war of words over the possible closure of a road around Chaffey Dam has entered a new phase, after Tamworth Regional councillors expressed their frustration over the ongoing stalemate with the state government.
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Councillors heard at Tuesday night’s meeting a response to a letter sent to Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson had been received this week but had failed to answer the questions council had included.
The issue concerns the Chaffey Dam augmentation project and that when complete, a section of the existing Western Foreshore (Westbank) Rd will be inundated when the dam is full.
Local residents have raised their concerns over any proposed closure of this section of road, with the matter coming down to just which level of government would be responsible for putting up the funding needed to relocate it.
Another suggested course of action has been to keep the road open, and only close it when the water level rises, one not favoured by council.
The council also maintains that because the state government is responsible for the dam augmentation project, it’s responsible for the issue that’s arisen with the road.
The letter to Mr Anderson had sought to clarify if the state government was of the opinion it was council’s responsibility or, if the relocation was seen as a legitimate cost of the Chaffey Dam augmentation project, could the issue of funding be raised with NSW water minister Niall Blair.
Mayor Col Murray said it
was frustrating the letter had failed to provide these answers, and that questions had been referred back to the council.
He said he would be happy to personally deliver the letter back to Mr Anderson and explain what council was seeking, a course of action endorsed by his colleagues.
Mr Anderson told The Leader yesterday he had taken up the issue with Mr Blair’s office, but needed more information from the council about what its modelling showed in relation to Westbank Rd and the frequency of inundation.
“They’re questions no doubt the minister will ask,” he said.
Mr Anderson said he was committed to keeping the lines of communication open, and going to the minister on council’s behalf about the options available.
Cr Russell Webb said on Tuesday it was a state government project and the local MP should be seeking responses from his departments.
“We’re asking him for an answer – it shouldn’t be him asking us for answers,” he said.
Cr Juanita Wilson said council’s state and federal counterparts needed to become involved.
