REGIONAL Development Australia (RDA) Mid North Coast wants to dam the Macleay River.
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Part of a push for “big ideas” from the NSW government, RDA Mid North Coast chief executive officer Lorraine Gordon told The Macleay Argus the RDA was looking at water policy throughout the region.
“It comes down to the amount of water that is wasted particularly when we get heavy rainfall,” Ms Gordon said.
“Water just goes out in the ocean, which is a massive waste of water and could be utilised in the drier times for irrigating agriculture.”
The NSW government is looking for big infrastructure projects to be funded, in part, by the sale of the state's poles and wires.
“What they are looking for is big infrastructure projects that benefit the whole region,” Ms Gordon said.
“They are looking at roads, bridges and water security with a strong focus on water policy.
“The dam the Macleay idea is part of our wish-list for the region.”
Ms Gordon said water available for agriculture use would increase food security, private investment and economic resilience within the region.
Dams also help with flood control.
“If we can manage water capacity, not only does it provide an important resource to grow agriculture in the region, particularly in the Macleay, it could also help with flood mitigation," she said.
“There would need to be a whole study which would include where a dam is best suitable, environmental impacts, and the community would need a say as well.”