Have your say on Stanthorpe water

“We want to inform the residents of the Southern Downs and particularly the Stanthorpe community, what the council has done since amalgamation to secure an improved urban water supply for Stanthorpe township, as well as the path selected that would also provide much needed irrigation water for the future sustainability of the agricultural community.”
Southern Downs Regional Mayor Ron Bellingham made this statement in announcing a community meeting in Stanthorpe on Tuesday at 7pm at the Civic Centre Supper Room.
“The Stanthorpe Shire started this process nearly 20 years ago and, in the last three-and-a-half years, Southern Downs Council has continued working on the project, including an assessment of alternatives to Emu Swamp Dam provided by the State Government,” Cr Bellingham said.
He said that, following review of all the options available for both urban and irrigation storages, the council had decided to continue with the Emu Swamp Dam proposal as both an urban and irrigation storage.
In doing that, the council recently agreed to complete a Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement for lodgement with the State Government.
“It is important at this point in time that we update residents on the options available, why Emu Swamp was preferred over the alternatives and inform them of the challenges still to be faced in achieving that project,” Cr Bellingham said.
The night was intended to be both a sharing of information from the council and the opportunity for residents to make comment or ask questions of the Councillors.