PLANS to build a new dam at Mole River have resurfaced with the Federal Government given a shortlist of prospective project sites across the country.
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The Mole River project is one of 30 sites being tabled for the potential plan to boost agricultural production and reinvigorate rural economies.
The Coalition campaigned at the last federal election on building more dams and, in March, Prime Minister Tony Abbott appointed Agriculture Minister and New England MP Barnaby Joyce to head the ministerial taskforce.
Mr Joyce said the fact that a shortlist of 30 dam proposals had been handed to the PM showed the Coalition was serious about following through on their promise.
The list has been pared back from 100 but Mr Joyce said not all 30 projects would get the nod.
A $76 million dam project 5 kilometres north of Ballandean got the green light last week after years of wrangling with the Queensland government.
A dam site at the Mole River isn’t a new concept with a prior plot having reached the planning stages in 2007.
“The group did costings and it was around $100 million – but that won’t mean anything today,” Tenterfield Shire mayor Peter Petty said.
The proposal was eventually knocked back along with a number of other dam proposals sitting on the desks of parliament.
“This is something that has always been on our desk and council have supported."
- Tenterfield mayor, Peter Petty
The mayor said he had an opportunity to brief Mr Joyce about the proposal while in Canberra for the National General Assembly of Local Government in June.
“He’s very supportive – because we have a plan and design we have got a bit of a leg up,” he said.
Cr Petty said it would be substantial for local industry and farming if a dam were greenlighted but admitted it would be a controversial pitch.
“I know it will have its knockers,” he said.
Mr Joyce said new storages could help farmers meet the booming south-east Asian markets and help safeguard residential water supplies.
“If we don’t do anything, by 2050 there will only be 2.5ML of stored water per person. That’s way below our requirements.
“My only problem is going to be fighting the environmentalists.
