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Tweed Shire Council is inviting the community to learn the latest on the proposed 8.5 metre raising of Clarrie Hall Dam by coming along to community information sessions at Murwillumbah and Uki in early February.
Council’s Director – Engineering David Oxenham said the team completing the final stages of the environmental impact assessment into raising the dam would be on hand to answer questions and discuss the proposal.
“We’re now at the business end of assessing the impacts, with independent consultant KBR finalising the studies required to lodge an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with the NSW Government, which we’re planning to do in mid-2024,” Mr Oxenham said.
“I encourage the community to drop into the sessions at any time when they are being held to discuss the proposal with the team and ask questions.”
The sessions will be held on:
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Tuesday 6 February from 4 to 6.30 pm in the Holy Trinity Anglican Church at 1473 Kyogle Road, Uki.
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Wednesday 7 February from 12 to 2 pm in the CWA Hall at 20 Queens Street, Murwillumbah.
Anyone who can’t attend in person can head to Council's online engagement page yoursaytweed.com.au/raisingclarriehall-eis to ask questions and register to receive future updates, including notifications about the upcoming EIS exhibition period.
The studies KBR is working on include cultural heritage, biodiversity, flooding, water quality, hydrology, traffic and road safety, noise, air quality, social impact and climate change.
The potential impacts of constructing and operating the dam are being investigated and plans for managing those impacts and mitigation measures are being proposed.
Council will lodge the EIS with the NSW Department of Housing, Planning and Infrastructure in mid-2024, when it will be placed on public exhibition.
“The community can raise issues while the EIS is being prepared and during its public exhibition,” Mr Oxenham said.
“After exhibition, the NSW Government will consider the submissions, the EIS and other documents submitted as part of the application for approval to raise the dam.
“If the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces approves the project, it will be subject to conditions of that approval. Community submissions can also influence those conditions.
“If NSW Government approval is obtained, the elected Councillors will decide whether to progress construction.”
Council has recently mailed a community update about the EIS to communities surrounding the dam.
An online version of the update and answers to frequently asked questions is at yoursaytweed.com.au/raisingclarriehall-eis.
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The NSW Government strongly encourages best-practice management by water utilities throughout Regional NSW. The NSW Government is proud to support this important planning work being done by Tweed Shire Council under the Safe and Secure Water Program.
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