TAMWORTH Regional councillors have been left scratching their heads after failing to receive an invitation to the official opening of the Chaffey Dam augmentation works.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Deputy mayor Russell Webb said councillors were not even aware the event was on until the day before.
“I don’t know where the fall down in communication happened, but it’s very disappointing,” he said.
“It’s quite disgraceful that councillors ... who represent the community, who have been pushing both levels of government very hard for years to enlarge Chaffey Dam ... find out they’re not invited to something like this.
“All the councillors feel like we’ve been snubbed.
“It is an exciting day, and worth celebrating, it’s just disappointing not to be involved.”
A spokesman for state MP Kevin Anderson’s office confirmed State Water distributed the invites to the opening and that it was standard practice to invite just the council mayor and general manager.
Some councillors took to social media on Thursday night expressing their disappointment, one even suggesting a community celebration led by the council.
Cr Mark Rodda endorsed Cr Webb’s remarks, and said given council’s financial commitment and councillors’ lobbying efforts and input over so many years, individual invitations would have been appropriate.
When asked about a council-led celebration, Cr Rodda said he would prefer to see a continued push for price relief for Peel Valley water users.
“Now the augmentation (of Chaffey Dam) has been officially opened, I would like to see water equity for the Peel Valley ... now that would be something really worth celebrating,” he said.
“The government promised equitable water outcomes and they still haven’t done anything to fix it.”