Save the Williams River

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The Williams River: An area of pristine wilderness, home to many native species

The Williams River begins in Barrington Tops National Park, flowing through several World Heritage listed areas, and feeds into the internationally-significant RAMSAR-listed Hunter Estuary Wetlands.

	Watch the TV Ad; Protect the Williams River. Stop the Tilegra dam! - The Wilderness Society Newcastle In

It is one of the last free-flowing rivers in NSW and has the most diverse and intact aquatic biotic communities in the Hunter Valley. 

The Williams River is home to colonies of platypus and long-necked turtles, a diversity of fish species including bass, mullet, eel and bullrout, freshwater crayfish and five species of mussels, and boasts a two-hectare stand of rare river oaks.

Wetlands Refuge Under Threat

This aquatic ‘eden' is threatened to disappear forever if the construction of the Tillegra Dam goes ahead.  The State Government-proposed dam, north of Dungog, will destroy the precious habitat of these species and affect this delicate ecosystem in ways that we cannot yet predict.  It will also destroy over 2,000 hectares of prime agricultural land and 21 kilometres of precious riverine environment.
The Wilderness Society Newcastle is calling for the protection of this unique and valuable river environment and ecosystem.

Damage to the local area and increased carbon emissions

Large dams have been shown to produce massive emissions of greenhouse gasses from rotting vegetation, bacterial action and inundated land; not to mention the emissions released through the construction of the dam.

An expensive dam the size of Sydney Harbour that we do not need!

Despite the worst drought on record in NSW, Hunter Water Corporation has consistently reported high supply levels.  Even at the end of the recent drought Hunter Water customers had no water restrictions.  In fact, there was excess water available to supply the Central Coast.  Additionally recent climate modelling for the region indicates rainfall will continue to be well above the state and national average.

You're already paying for the Tillegra Dam and the destruction of an unspoiled ecosystem

In November 2009 the water bill you received from Hunter Water Corporation had a price increase - part of this increase is to pay for the Tillegra Dam.  The Tillegra Dam has not yet been approved by State or Federal Governments, so why are you already paying for it?  Will Hunter Water give back your money when the Tillegra Dam proposal is stopped?

Damage to the local area and increased carbon emissions

In addition to habitat destruction, large dams have been shown to produce massive emissions of greenhouse gases from rotting vegetation, bacterial action and inundated land; on top of the emissions released during the construction of the dam.

What's being done to prevent it?

The Wilderness Society Newcastle is a member of the Save the Wilderness River Coalition, and together we're working on a campaign calling for the protection of this unique and valuable river environment and ecosystem.