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General Category => News Views & Press Releases => Topic started by: Editor on August 27, 2012, 01:18:13 AM

Title: Second round of Chaffey information sessions
Post by: Editor on August 27, 2012, 01:18:13 AM
Second round of Chaffey information sessions
23 August 2012 - State Water Corp

The second round of Chaffey Dam upgrade and augmentation information sessions will be held in Tamworth on Thursday 30 August and Woolomin on Friday 31 August, 2012.

The information sessions are part of the consultation process in preparation for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which will outline possible impacts to the surrounding areas from the project and suggest ways to address the impacts.

The $43.33 million works include $16.38 million for the stage two safety upgrade from the NSW Government and $26.95 million for augmentation with contributions of $16.945 million from the Australian Government’s Water for the Future initiative; $6.647 million from the NSW Government; and $3.358 million from the Tamworth Regional Council.

State Water project manager Jubrahil Khan said the informal sessions will give locals a chance to speak one-on-one with the project team and learn what the project will involve.

“Augmentation of Chaffey Dam has been in the pipeline for almost 20 years so we want to make sure the community has a chance to hear how it will take place,” Mr Khan said.

The augmentation and stage two safety upgrade project involves increasing the capacity of the dam from 62,000 megalitres to 100,000 megalitres to secure Tamworth’s water supply and ensure the dam meets modern standards for extreme floods.

Augmentation will increase the full supply level of the dam by 6.5 metres, meaning some land will be inundated and roads will need to be relocated or realigned.

“For some time now we have been in touch with the key stakeholders about what the works will involve and how they may be impacted, and through the EIS process we will continue to work with them to identify solutions to any issues,” Mr Khan said.

“The information sessions provide an opportunity for the community to learn the facts about the works and seek clarification on any points of concern.”

Drop-in style information sessions will be held at the Tamworth City Plaza on Thursday, 30 August between 2:30pm and 3:30pm and at the Woolomin General Store on Friday, 31 August between 9am and 10am.

An information evening will be held at the Tamworth Community Centre Heritage Room on Thursday, 30 August from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

Further information on the information sessions and the project is available at www.worleyparsons.com/chaffeydam (http://www.worleyparsons.com/chaffeydam).