Meeting to clear up water issuess

Greg Mashiah, who has oversight of the region’s major water and sewer projects, will make a presentation to explain the delivery of water from the Nymboida River and Shannon Creek dam to the Clarence and Coffs Harbour populations.

Yamba CAN chair Col Shephard said there was concern in the community about the quality of infrastructure delivering water to their premises.

“Given the situation we are facing as a community, with the recent infux of large residential developments and proposed population growth in Yamba and the Lower Clarence, we feel these are matters of immense importance,” he said.

“Residents need to be fully informed about the current status and future plans for water quality, supply, infrastructure and emergency management.”

He said community members had informed Yamba CAN they are especially interested in an updated status report on the Rushforth Road Water Filtration Plan project that is currently under review.

Mr Shephard said many people in our community did not have a good understanding of the process involved in the CVC water supply network from the Nymboida River and Shannon Creek Dam via the Rushforth Road Water Treatment Plant and reservoirs at Maclean and Yamba to end users in Yamba and elsewhere throughout the Valley.

“There are a number of issues of ongoing concern in respect of catchment management, water quality and security of supply,” he said.

“There are also some quite complex contractual arrangements between CVC and City of Coffs Harbour as regards sharing of responsibilities for water and infrastructure between the two LGAs.

“Huge amounts of investment will be needed to fund ongoing maintenance and necessary infrastructure improvements.

“How much does/will this cost? What provision has CVC made regarding budgeting and reserves for the necessary works?

“Where is the money coming from? What is the estimated time for completion?”

Mr Shephard said the meeting would give the community the opportunity to pose these and other questions to the council’s experts.

The public meeting will include presentation information about local food data, (how to interpret it as it affects you), stormwater and foodplain management.

He said a question and answer session would follow the presentation

The meeting will be held in the Wooli St Hall in Yamba on February 4 from 5.30pm.