LACK OF adequate water sources are foreseen by Upper Lachlan Council as a problem for the multi-million dollar gas fired power station planned near Dalton.
AGL Energy has submitted an Environmental Assessment for the project, which came before the last meeting of Upper Lachlan Council.
The power station is to be located on properties “The Elms” and “Riverview,” of Walsh’s Road, near Dalton.
The gas for the project would come from the Moomba – Sydney natural gas pipeline, which is about 3 kms from the proposed site.
AGL states that the facility would have “a small essential water demand, comprising domestic water, utility water and fire prevention.
In addition, it has discretionary process water demand to improve efficiency.
It claims the water will come from a number of options, including delivery by road in tankers, groundwater extraction, and via augmentation of the Dalton or Gunning treatment plants.
“Water may also be obtained from Upper Lachlan Shire water supplies,” AGL proposes.
Cr. James Wheelwright asked: “Are these the only sources of water for such a big project?”
Director of Works Mr. Phil Newham: “I think they are taking it a little bit lightly.
“They are of the view they will do a lot of groundwater exploration, but we feel it won’t work.
“Council has done a lot of work in this without result.”
Cr. Brian McCormack: “The Lachlan River isn’t far way; are there any water holes there?”
Mayor Cr. Shaw replied that there were water holes, but the river did not always flow.
“They are over a barrel. They only have one real source, and this a pipeline from the Gunning water supply.”
Manager of Operations, Mr. Luke Moloney, reported to Council that the facility would require four times the current usage of the Dalton supply, and the system lacked the capacity to meet such a demand.
A similar situation existed in the Gunning water and sewerage systems.
Cr. McCormack added that AGL would have do a lot of work on the public roads into the area.
Mr. Newham said there would be further meetings with AGL on road works.
Cr. Shaw: “They think it is cut and dried on the roads, but it is not.”
In a report, Mr. Newham said AGL’s Environmental Assessment failed to address urban road safety issues at all.
“This is of paramount importance as particular attention needs to be paid to the selection of routes within the urban areas of Gunning and Dalton,” Mr. Newham said.
“Both townships have vulnerable facilities such as schools and pre-schools, as well a lightly constructed pavements to consider.
“Traffic using the unsealed roads in the vicinity of Dalton village will also create a dust nuisance for residents.
“The community has an expectation that the developer with reconstruct and seal the road involved to Council’s specifications.”
Mr. Newham also predicated problems associated with pipelines using roadways, both from space and tree removal aspects.
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