Tillegra Dam – will destroy a river, its wildlife and our wallets!

The Wilderness Society (Newcastle) Inc
Media Release
26th September 2008 

The proposed Tillegra Dam on the Williams River is unnecessary, expensive and destructive.

“Not only will this dam destroy a river and its wildlife it will hit the already burdened pockets of Hunter Water customers” said Sam East, Campaign Coordinator at The Wilderness Society Newcastle.

“Hunter Water has just proposed hiking water prices for its customers by a whopping 45% over the next four years in order to help pay for the dam”.

The dam is unnecessary as the Hunter region has ample supplies of water even though we have endured the worst drought on record. Despite this drought, no water restrictions were imposed, and storages remained close to full. Building a dam this size to drought proof our region and the Central Coast with so many proven alternatives available is outrageous and unnecessary.

The dam will be expensive for local people as Hunter Water and the NSW Government propose that Hunter Water customers – about 500,000 of us – will pay for the construction of the Tillegra Dam. This could mean an increase in water bills of up to $450 a year and a 45% price hike is already confirmed!

The dam will also be destructive. “If green is the new black then rivers are surely the new gold? Rivers are one of our nation’s most precious assets. Destroying rivers is a shortsighted investment strategy. Tillegra Dam will destroy the Williams River – the last decent river in the region not to mention crucial habitat for our vulnerable iconic platypus” said Sam East.

Dam a river and it is dammed forever.