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Tweed  Council places a 20 year moratorium on

any dam proposal at Byrrill Creek effective from

15 May 2012.

Tweed Council Rejects both Dam Options.

The Save Byrrill Creek Campaign does not endorse the raising of the dam wall height of the Clarrie Hall dam as an alternative to building a new dam at Byrrill Creek. We are opposed to both dam options and any further erosion of the Tweeds bio diversity, further loss of habitat for threatened species, flooding of Aboriginal sites, fragmentation of wildlife corridors, destruction of endangered ecological communities and the inundation of lowland rainforest in Mebbin National Park which also includes the loss of the access to the National Park for tourists. We are also concerned for the spiritual integrity of the whole Mt Warning complex and the web of Songlines

Currently the Tweed is allocated 27,000ML of water under the current water sharing plan with the present population consuming between 12 and 15,000ML of water annually. There is no threat to water supply and availability. What is of concern is the approval of the mega size greenfield developments on the Tweed coast which are not required to be fitted with a dual reticulation recycled water system, large rain water tanks or any stormwater harvesting system. The rain that falls on the roofs and roads of these developments does not percolate into the ground to replenish groundwater supplies but will flow in drains, uncollected and unfiltered into estuaries and rivers that are already polluted with too much runoff. With no water saving measures except for those outlined in the antiquated BASIX requirements [ low flush toilets and low flow shower heads ] and a target population for 2036 that is unsustainable we are being manipulated into believing that the conservation of our natural resources is an impediment to progress. If we allow our iconic koalas and platypus to decline not to mention all the other species on the edge of extinction, cripple our eco tourist potential and devalue our Tweed Caldera landscape for the sake of expanding the population beyond sustainable limits then what do we have left if we destroy everything that makes the Tweed unique?

It is also worth noting that the largest housing estate that the Tweed has ever seen costing $3 billion at Cobaki is going ahead without dual reticulation recycling or stormwater harvesting and recycling or large rainwater water tanks. Because no water saving initiaves are being employed, some Tweed Councillors are still pursuing a dam at Byrrill Creek.

Byrrill Creek dam proposal puts Endangered Species on the edge of Extinction

There are potentially 45 species of threatened fauna likely to occur within the area to be inundated, 15of which are species restricted to lowland rainforest/wet sclerophyll habitatareas. In addition to the threat of localised extinctions there is also the issue of disruption of habitat connectivity and of gene flow.

There are at least 26 species of threatened plants likely to occur within the area to be inundated. Of these, 20are species restricted to lowland rainforest on alluvial/basaltic soils and listed as Endangered for purposes of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation [EPBC] Act.

Tweed & Lismore Greens media release:
Thursday, 3 March 2011

Nationals must come clean on Byrrill Creek dam plans

Greens MLC John Kaye met with local Greens candidates Sue Stock (Lismore) and Andrea Vickers (Tweed) and anti-dam campaigners at Byrrill Creek yesterday to inspect the site of the proposed dam wall. The wall, which would be 40 metres high, would inundate a vital wildlife corridor between national parks that is home to 71 threatened species.

With a likely Coalition victory in the NSW state election on March 26, the fate of the proposed Byrrill Creek dam now lies in the hands of the National and Liberal parties, according to Dr Kaye.

John Kaye, Greens MLC said:

“Building a dam at Byrrill Creek would have devastating consequences for an area with international significance.”Thomas George, who has been suspiciously quiet on the issue, is likely to be the local member in a Coalition government that will be under pressure to approve the Byrrill Creek Dam. “Tweed Council is clearly looking to the next government to overturn the Water Sharing Plan that currently has the Byrrill Creek Dam on hold.

“Mr George and the Nationals must declare publicly to the voters of the North Coast exactly what their intentions are in relation to this unnecessary and damaging dam. “Like the failed Tillegra dam project, there is no justification for the destruction of an environmentally sensitive region with Aboriginal cultural significance and a world heritage listed shield volcano at Mt Warning

Tweed Council has been suspiciously quiet on the issue at its January and February meetings. “There is a real possibility that the proponents of the dam are waiting until after the state election so they have a more sympathetic ear with the Liberals and Nationals.”

Sue Stock, Greens Candidate for Lismore, said:

‘The proposed dam site is so exquisitely beautiful, surrounded by core koala habitat and the creek home to many platypus. The land is also home for 26 species of threatened plants and 45 species of threatened animals. These include Australia’s largest frog The Giant Barred Frog and the Powerful Owl which are also listed as endangered.’‘I wonder whether Thomas George has ever explored it and seen the beauty and rarity of this lowland rainforest? If he had, he could not support such a gross act of vandalism as building a dam here when the Tweed Council professional staff made it their last option for the water supply.’

‘The proposed dam will provide a ‘trigger’ to the Federal EPBC Act as it is so close to World Heritage National Parks, which are governed by international conventions. Opposing Federal intervention like the Traveston Dam will cost Tweed ratepayers a lot of unnecessary money better spent on community and health facilities. There are other water supply options for the Tweed Shire.’

Andrea Vickers, Greens Candidate for Tweed said:

‘Tweed Council has ignored both the advice of expert staff and the views of the community to pursue this high risk, high cost engineering project. $1 million has already been allocated to preliminary planning and despite the dam being ruled illegal, the Council has not repealed that decision.’

‘A fraction of that cost would allow us to commission a best practice review of water management in Tweed, so we can begin to implement ways to use this precious resource as efficiently as we possibly can. There’s no justification for destroying a place like Byrrill Creek when we still use drinking water to water our lawns.’‘Tweed Council’s continued pursuit of the proposed dam is now well beyond any reason or justification. It is an abuse of process and an affront to the ratepayers of Tweed.’

Ms Vickers said that although the incumbent Tweed Nationals MP, Geoff Provest, does not support the dam proposal, ‘if elected Mr Provest will be a junior member of a minor party, and he will have to toe the party line.’ ’There’s a real risk that the Coalition will control both houses of Parliament after this election, and will have a free rein to overturn whatever legislation they like in NSW.’

‘We need to hear Barry O’Farrell and Andrew Stoner say that they will not throw away Byrrill Creek’s hard-won protection.’

The Save Byrrill Creek Campaign would like to thank all those environmentally conscious people who wrote letters and submissions to Ministers Costa and Sartor [DECC]. In particular we would also like to thank Greens MP Ian Cohen who presented our petitions to parliament on 8 separate occasions and put foward a motion calling for the prohibition of a dam on Byrrill Creek to be upheld.

Below; The proposed dam wall goes through the centre of this picture. This lagoon in Byrrill Creek is platypus habitat as is every other billabong along the length of the creek.