The idea of storing water underground is not new - indeed, it is seen as the most sensible solution to help drought-proof our dry continent by more than a few hydrogeologists.
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Up the valley in Missabotti, where the Moran family have been farming since the 1870s, great grandson of the original settler and spokesman for the family, Andy Moran, decided to evaluate the possibility of an underground weir on the family farm ... and found himself in all sorts of hot water.
"Underground dams are used widely around the world," Andy said.
"By creating an impervious clay barrier underground, the aquifer is able to fill up upstream rather than constantly draining down into the borefields.
"When we were kids the water supply here was endless - now the well drains within ten minutes of pumping. An underground dam would top up the water table at its source to ensure we have a reliable water supply here.
"And unlike a surface dam, water loss by evaporation is minimal plus there is no farming land lost or drowned as with a dam."
"This is a simple earth moving exercise that will give us water security ... the average annual rainfall here is more than 8.3 gigalitres, the proposed underground weir of 25 megalitres would be filled in 22 days of average rainfall. It would be a one-off recharge and normal downstream flows would remain exactly the same subsequently."
To see if the idea was practicable, Andy employed a soil tester and a bloke with an excavator and set about having three test holes dug.
The results looked good and Andy began preparing the relevant applications for the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Nambucca Shire Council.
However this stopped when, out of the blue, a 'please explain' letter arrived from DPI, in February 2017, claiming he was 'guilty of piercing the aquifer'.
Andy responded and welcomed a site inspection.
"I assumed that as we were exploring the feasibility, no approvals were needed. DPI however said we should have stumped up a $900 application fee."
Following an unannounced inspection at the wrong spot, another letter arrived, this time with a fine for $1500.
Andy decided to fight it - "Other applications lay ahead and I didn't want to be found guilty before I even started."
A second inspection by two unannounced officers took 13 minutes and was again in the wrong place.
"Next the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) rang and wanted to meet on site the following day. I was out of town but the date was not negotiable so my nephew showed him the spot.
"This time a 68 page report was written - but they would not release it to me. It took months and two applications before I finally saw the report, which was riddled with errors.
"I was furious and demanded a court date be set with all the relevant parties present so that I could refute what had been written.
"A few days later, February 12, to be exact, I received an email saying the fine had been revoked and all action had ceased.
"It has been a long fight against the bureaucracy - it is a huge relief.
"Our little project will be a trail blazer for NSW.
"We are now getting on with preparing the necessary applications. DPI-Water and Nambucca Shire Council will be assessing this scheme, which is ideally suited to the geology of north coast creeks with their narrow valleys and moderately deep gravel aquifers."
A spokesperson for NRAR said that in order to undertake any works near a waterway, a controlled activity approval needs to be sought from them or penalties may be incurred.
"No applications have been made by Mr Moran for any future works, including dams," the spokesperson said.
More information:
"Current increased withdrawals of water for town and agricultural use have had a detrimental effect on the water table in the upper reaches of the catchment," Andy said.
"Wells that used to be able to pump water continuously for 24 hours are now limited to 10 minutes at a time in dry periods. Past rural activities such as dairies and piggeries would now be impossible and even domestic and stock water is problematic.
The reason is that when you withdraw water from the bottom of a long gravel aquifer (in effect a giant sponge) the highest parts are the first to drain out. Such is the case for the highest areas of the catchment such as Sullivans Creek.
Under current legislation we are entitled to harvest 86.4 megalitres per year – some three times more than a one-off fill of a weir, which once filled is filled forever.
It is anomalous that a person buying a new block of land in Valla or any property connected to town water has more access to our rainfall than we do ourselves.
The inventory of underground dams prepared by the International Association of Hydrogeologists lists many thousands around all continents. Australian examples can be counted on one hand."
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Ute Schulenberg
Journalism was always my plan but plans being what they are, I did not get to realise it until my early 40s ... and have loved every minute since. For me community journalism is the most intimate and honest place to be in this field - telling the stories of people I live with, side-by-side, every day. It is an honour.
Journalism was always my plan but plans being what they are, I did not get to realise it until my early 40s ... and have loved every minute since. For me community journalism is the most intimate and honest place to be in this field - telling the stories of people I live with, side-by-side, every day. It is an honour.
