Council’s resolution follows debate at last week’s monthly meeting on the 15 projects to share in the Federal Government’s drought support offer of $1 million to Federation Council.
As reported in detail in The Free Press last week, the project relating to the provision of an alternative water supply option for Balldale that meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines was not included in the list of 15.
As stated in the report, finding a new source of groundwater, disinfecting the water and pumping to Balldale was estimated, in 2008, to cost $725,600 and now estimated to cost $1.4 million – more than the combined total $1 million cost of the 15 projects listed.
No reserve fund was set up back in 2008 or since for the Balldale project. Long-time councillor with Corowa Shire before becoming, with Urana Shire, Federation Council in 2016, Cr Fred Longmire strongly queried the top priority project of the 15, - the $250,000 for the Urana reliable water pipeline.
This project will provide a pipeline to allow an alternate water supply to the Urana Aquatic Centre for a more stable supply.
Cr Longmire questioned as to where the water would come from for the aquatic centre and explained the Balldale situation.
“There might be only 120 people who live there but we are talking about a water supply we charge in a rate notice that is not far off sea water,” he said.
“People can’t clean their teeth or have a shower because it is so bad. They have their own water tanks but there has been no rain to fill them.
“There is no point having a pipeline if there is no water to put in it.”
Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke said council is talking about pumping raw water, not palatable water, to the Urana Aquatic Centre.
“Urana Shire identified this project many years ago and started putting money aside to the point there is still a reserve fund,” he said.
Council’s resolution to address the Balldale/Daysdale situation was made on the motion of Crs Bronwyn Thomas and Longmire.
Cr Thomas had earlier successfully moved the motion which covered the list of 15 projects to receive drought funding support.
Her second, also successful motion, was that Federation Council, in consultation with the Rural Federation Council Working Group (drought support committee) make a submission to The Legislative Assembly Committee inquiry into support for drought affected communities in NSW to include the urgent action to secure a palatable water supply for Balldale and Daysdale.
“It is to be noted that once again Federation Council is at the forefront of consulting and conversing with our community on important delivery of funds and projects,” Cr Thomas said.
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