The NSW Government's commitment of $850,000 to conduct a study for a pipeline to pump excess water from Lake Rowlands to Carcoar Dam will be an environmental catastrophe for the fragile wetland ecosystem along Coombing Creek if the proposal is adopted.
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Coombing Creek is home to a wide variety of species from insects, amphibians, crustaceans, reptiles, fish, turtles, birds such as waterfowl, grebes, cormorants, ibises, spoonbills, egrets, herons, cranes, water hens and even platypus and water rats.
The only seasons where the Coombing Creek ecosystem would not be compromised by reducing the initial season flows would be in the wet years where Carcoar Dam would also be full and overflowing.
The proposal to take surplus water from Lake Rowlands to Carcoar dam in average seasons would deprive the ecosystem of life sustaining flows.
All Australian rivers are critically important to our national ecosystem, setting a precedent of sacrificing a river or creek should not be acceptable to any of us.
A far more practical solution than spending $850,000 on exploring the option of closing one waterway would be to explore the viability of raising the Lake Rowlands dam wall to its original planned capacity of 10,000 megalitres.
This could allow for increased water security for our community, hydro power generation and environmental flows to our wetland ecosystems. A triple bottom line benefit for Australia.
George King, Manager
“Coombing Park”
CARCOAR 2791
YOUR SAY – Your opinion is always welcome so send your letters to mark.logan@fairfaxmedia.com.au
