Community groups, landholders and environmental interest groups have met to expose the regional impacts of the proposed raising of the dam wall at Wyangala.
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The meeting was held between landholders from the inundation area, the Lachlan wetlands and floodplains and representatives of Aboriginal community groups, Landcare groups and environmental interest groups.
These included Upper Lachlan NSW Farmers Association, Lachlandcare, Mulwaree Aboriginal Community, Lachlan Floodplain and Wetlands Association, Central West Environment Council and Inland Rivers Network.
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"The 2018 political announcement to raise the Wyangala Dam wall took many people by surprise," a media release stated.
"There are deep concerns that the fast-tracked proposal has no business case, no project design, no understanding of the complexities of the impacts and very poor community consultation.
"Production of crops and livestock on the prime Upper Lachlan river flats will be lost through increased flooding from water captured by the raised dam while the productivity of the Lower Lachlan floodplains and wetlands will degrade through the loss of that same water.
"Aboriginal cultural values will be destroyed and important environmental values lost in the upper catchment woodlands and lower wetlands. The health of the whole Lachlan River, already recognised as poor, will further decline through more changes to natural flows."
Representatives at the meeting identified opportunities and alternatives which would improve water security in the Lachlan Valley. Meanwhile protecting productive farming land and enterprises at both ends of the catchment along with Aboriginal cultural values, significant environmental assets and the health of the Lachlan River.
They would continue to liaise and push for alternative solutions that could provide better water security and flood mitigation through projects that would increase regional productivity and provide more jobs.
"The $650 million of public funding proposed for the Wyangala Dam project could be better spent on fixing inefficient water delivery to the Jemalong Irrigation District, improving the health of the Wyangala Dam catchment to reduce siltation of the current dam, raising the Newell Highway off the floodplain and improved services in Cowra, such as a new hospital."
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