This was the opening recommendation of members of the alliance who were invited to give evidence to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the rationale for proposed new dams.

The project west of Tenterfield is listed under the NSW Water Supply (Critical Needs) Act. Mr Bruce Norris explained that the dam will not meet the needs of any of the localities listed in the Act as having critical needs.

"The closest is Walgett where the weir has been raised this year meeting that need" he said.

"The principal purpose of the Mole River dam appears to be improving irrigation security.

"However, many irrigators along the Mole and Dumaresq believe that the dam will make their enterprises less viable."

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The $24 million currently being spent on a final business case despite a recent feasibility study showing this dam would be uneconomic, Mr Norris said.

"People along the Mole and Dumaresq Rivers below the dam site have been increasingly frustrated by WaterNSW's failure to meet with them, discuss options for water management or to provide useful answers to questions.

"By pressing ahead in this way with a business case for a dam recently considered uneconomic, when these affected people are still in drought and struggling to recover from extreme fires, the government shows a lack of empathy."

Convenor of the Mole River Protection Alliance, Kate Boyd, spoke about water planning and assessment processes.

"The draft Regional Water Strategy for the Border Rivers was released but no meeting was held near Tenterfield, Bonshaw or Collarenebri to discuss it," she said.

"It includes 50 options for changing water management. Most are good options.

"Building this dam is not an option."

Completing the business case is included as a commitment in the draft strategy, which is open for public comment until December 13.

"The general public, particularly people along the Barwon Darling and everyone in the Border Rivers, should be involved in deciding what objectives they want achieved," Ms Boyd said.

She wants the NSW Government to involve the public in choosing objectives now, instead of rushing ahead with a business case for a dam.

"This is a necessary input to any business case."

Ms Boyd summarised a few of the unknowns regarding the Government's process of developing a business case for damming the Mole River.

Will the business case for this dam consider as an alternative to the dam the implementation of all the good options [in the draft Regional Water Strategy]?

Bruce Norris concluded the presentation to the Parliamentary Committee saying "As a directly-affected landholder, the rational for this dam is lost on me.

"The inability to input our view into the development process is frustrating and emotionally draining. Any of the proposed benefits seem to be negated by the losses likely to be incurred financially by those businesses within the Mole and Dumaresq river systems."

He requested "that all information gathered, and modelling undertaken be publicly-released, peer-reviewed and discussed with the community as part of the process of developing the business case unless the whole idea is dropped."

Mr Norris and Ms Boyd then answered questions on impacts of the dam and better ways to enable communities to cope with limited water availability.