Snapshot of RWA consultation
The public consultation phase of the Regional Water Assessment (RWA) program will commence in October 2023 at the earliest. It will be for a period of approximately 4 weeks. It should be advertised on both the Department of Water website, as well as the SDRC website and social media.
The consulation will include:
A drop-in information session for the community to attend in Warwick
Online information sessions
A feedback survey (online and in print)
SDRC has requested, and the Department is considering, whether there will be a consultation in Stanthorpe as well as Warwick.
The RWA has provided the Southern Downs region with access to a wide range of experts and a critical opportunity for it to assess what options are available to provide water to residents during droughts. The consultation is a great opportunity for anyone who is reliant on Stanthorpe’s reticulated water system, whether residents or town businesses, to have their say.
The options under review for the Southern Downs region are:
Non-infrastructure options
Innovative solutions to reduce on-farm evaporation
Infrastructure options
Expand Warwick Recycled Water Scheme to supply feedlots. This has total costs of just over $20 million ($14 million for construction), and economic benefits of almost $40 million. Accordingly as it has a positive benefit cost ratio it has been referred to SDRC for consideration.
Expand Stanthorpe Recycled Water Scheme: this option is not undergoing further development as the current scheme does not have enough extra water for expansion.
Severn Off-stream Storage and Distribution Network: not recommended to proceed as it provides less water than Emu Swamp Dam but costs around the same amount. Less economically and financially viable than Emu Swamp Dam.
Warwick to Stanthorpe pipeline
Granite Belt Irrigation Project (Emu Swamp Dam)
Those in red will be covered in a series of blogs over the next week.
21 September 2023