At Nambucca Shire Council’s last general purpose committee meeting (August 18), the idea to build an on-stream water storage facility in the valley was struck from the record for reasons of being too costly and posing to great an impact both socially and environmentally.

The report conducted by the NSW Public Works department returned figures of $102.2 million (Leagues Creek) and $88.4 million (Gravelly Creek) for the construction of an on-stream dam of which does not include the additional costs of constructing a pipeline delivery system and a fishway structure plus the acquisition of private property.

Council’s general manager Michael Coulter said that the preliminary estimates for an on-stream dam exceed the refined cost estimates of an off-stream dam by 100 per cent.

“The report provides a good indication of the complexity and risks associated with on-stream dams,” Mr Coulter said.

“The complexity of the necessary investigations and design for an on-stream dam are such that the report recommends that council be prepared for a lengthy approval process… in the order of five years.

“This may jeopardise the opportunity for grant funding, including the firm offer to council for 31 per cent funding for the off-stream dam.”

With council resolved to continue down the path of constructing an off-stream dam, the site for this water storage facility has now been secured. The final parcel of land required for the site was agreed upon by council and given the stamp of approval.