The State Government has vowed to continue planning for a dam on the Belubula River despite environmentalists’ claims that the project would damage Cliefden Caves.
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Primary Industries, Lands and Water Minister Niall Blair was in Orange on Friday to re-state the government’s commitment to investigating options for the dam near Canowindra.
“In the coming weeks I will announce the successful tenderer for stage two, to conduct a detailed feasibility study into a possible new dam at Cranky Rock,” Mr Blair said.
He said the site had been moved from the Needles Gap site to Cranky Rock to reduce environmental damage.
“If Labor had done their homework and read our study they would have realised the Cranky Rock option has been identified as the one most likely to minimise environment and heritage impacts,” he said.
He said the study should be completed by October next year when a construction date might be named.
Belubula Landholders Association chairman Michael Payten said the dam was vital for farmers and jobs.
“Winter after winter the floods are coming but within a summer we are going to be standing on the floor of the river again,” he said.
However, the State Opposition said the dam would cause significant damage to the Cliefden Caves and should not proceed.
Shadow Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Penny Sharpe, who was also in Orange on Friday, said the NSW Government should have had Cliefden Caves nominated for state heritage listing.
Orange Speleological Society president Ian Curtis said the fossils at Cliefden were as significant as those in the Canowindra Age of Fishes Museum.
