However, I am dubious about the notion that Mr Joyce's re-election ensures "stability and continuity" and "bodes well for the region's infrastructure projects" with water security being nominated as one of three big projects to be addressed.

We all acknowledge that our city and region has a very real problem with our current and future water needs particularly if it is to transition to a mythical 100,000 population or indeed stay at current population levels. Following the augmentation proclamations of Chaffey Dam a number of years ago we heard that we'll have enough water to last us years. NSW Water declared "Chaffey Dam (augmentation) to deliver greater water security", a press release from Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson at the time stated that "the project will increase the storage's capacity from 62,000ML to 100,000ML to secure the water supply for the city of Tamworth and Peel Valley Water Users". In the same press release the former Minister Kevin Humphries was quoted saying the project "delivers security of supply for both towns and water users". Etc etc. Now Chaffey Dam is at 24.7 per cent (as at 23/05/2019) and we've gone from Level 1 restrictions in January to level 4 restrictions in May 2019 and the vista is mostly depressingly desiccated.

In more recent times we have had from the Commonwealth Government a promise of $75 million on the table for more water infrastructure but between the three tiers of Government who's representatives are largely from the same political fraternity, nothing has been achieved. I lament that if we cannot achieve a more secure supply or increased capacity under the current political realities, then we aren't ever going to and the lifestyles of extant residents will suffer and attracting businesses to our region reliant on a reliable water supply will stall.

Finally though the crux of the issue is, Chaffey Dam and any other NSW State owned water supplies located in the Peel Valley will never deliver the security Tamworth city and Peel Valley farmers need because the State Government are currently more focussed on selling the water supplies in our catchment to customers elsewhere than the future growth prospects of our region, or securing our water supply by dedicating Chaffey Dam solely for the use of Tamworth city and Peel Valley water users. Increasing the dam level again will only provide NSW Water with more water to sell elsewhere. The privatisation of our State's water assets will further exacerbate the problem and its obvious we need a far better deal than what we currently have.

Mark Rodda, Tamworth

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