The silent treatment

At the beginning of what I could call my “Emu Swamp Dam journey”, a local journalist told me that they had been contacted by a member of Council and instructed to “stop talking about the dam”. 

In a similar vein, some locals this week asked some questions about the dam on the “Stanthorpe on Facebook” page.  I provided some facts in response: just facts, no opinion.  The responses were polite and respectful.  So imagine my surprise to find that my answers had been removed overnight (no other comments, only mine) and comments on the post had been turned off.  As of today the whole post was removed and re-posted with no comments at all.  It seems no-one wants anyone to talk about the dam.

As part of our ongoing effort to improve transparency, POW! wrote to SDRC’s CEO Dave Burges on 18 January.  This letter followed a recent meeting between POW! and the Department of Water.  The letter said in part:

In response to our question as to whether there was anything preventing Council from giving regular updates to the community on the [Regional Water Assessment Program] the Department advised that there was not (though there may be the odd particular item that may not be able to be disclosed).  In fact, the Department advised that members on the RWAP, including Council, are intended to be conduits to their members/community.  Given the importance of water planning in this district I would expect that Council should be providing regular updates on the process.  For example, I understand that there is a shortlist of options, and detailed work is progressing on these notwithstanding the addition of Emu Swamp Dam to the process.  It would seem appropriate that the community be told which options are on this shortlist for further investigation.

Mr Burges responded as follows:

Noting the comments made by the Department to yourself, the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water is the lead for the Regional Water Assessment Program (RWAP). I am of the view that significant updates on the program should be initiated by the Department. Notwithstanding this, Council will provide updates as relevant to the Southern Downs Region in due course as and when required.

I am guessing this week’s press release from SDRC was meant to be just such an update.  I think it is significant that, while the press release mentioned several options to improve urban water security, it was silent on the infrastructure option which made the RWA shortlist in September 2022: a pipeline from Connolly Dam to Stanthorpe.  Coincidence?  To join the dots with my Facebook experience this week, one of my answers specifically included a statement that this pipeline was considered a possible alternative to Emu Swamp Dam to improve urban water security for Stanthorpe.

Is Mayor Pennisi worried that the facts may harm his pet project?  Does Mayor Pennisi think that by keeping the residents of Stanthorpe in the dark he’ll get his dam?  Residents are entitled to information, and just because Mayor Pennisi is not prepared to have an open and honest discussion about water security doesn’t mean the rest of us have to play his game.

This week’s press release included references to the last “crippling drought” with a “a devastating impact on many livelihoods”.  While true, Mayor Pennisi using this to scare people into supporting Emu Swamp Dam, A DAM WHICH (BASED ON GBIP’S OWN MODELLING) WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST AS EMPTY AS STORM KING DAM DURING THE LAST DROUGHT, is not acceptable.  If he cared at all about the impacts of future droughts on Stanthorpe he would have been working hard since 2020 to come up with viable options to improve Stanthorpe’s long-term water security.  Instead Mayor Pennisi refuses to discuss any option other than Emu Swamp Dam.  Zero leadership.  Zero integrity.