THE long-awaited release of the federal government’s Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper may give renewed hope to the push to have a dam built at Lake Coolah, near Narrandera.
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Lake Coolah was last year left off the federal government’s list of initial priorities for new water storage facilities around the country.
The white paper identified a number of other priorities, but suggested the government would be open to new projects “as priorities change over time”.
As part of the white paper’s recommendations, the government will establish a $500 million water infrastructure fund to invest in such projects.
Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said the Lake Coolah proposal was “not off the radar”.
“I’ve taken the Agriculture Minister (Barnaby Joyce) there, I’ve written to them about it,” he said.
“This region is one of the great foodbowls and it just makes good sense you would assist the capability and capacity of the region by building water storage infrastructure here.”
Mr Joyce will visit the Riverina on Wednesday and it is likely the case for a Lake Coolah dam will again be put to him.
When he last visited the Riverina in November – a trip that included travelling to Lake Coolah – Mr Joyce didn’t rule out a dam potentially being built at the site in the future.
The push for a dam at Lake Coolah has been continuing for more than 20 years.
Griffith mayor John Dal Broi, a supporter of the proposal, said it was encouraging the Agriculture Minister was visiting the region again so soon.
“I’m only going to be speculating but I think he may well be looking at carrying out some form of investigation as to the amount of water that could be stored in there and some of the costs involved,” he said.
Cr Dal Broi said he had been encouraged by recent moves in the political sphere concerning agriculture in the region, such as moves to establish an inquiry into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and the release of the white paper.
“It’s good to see agriculture is now placed well out in the forefront again,” he said.
It’s estimated a dam at Lake Coolah could potentially store as much as 500,000 megalitres of water.
Lake Coolah has been flagged as a potential site to build a new dam for more than 20 years.
