Project/News

Road Relocation Options

The proposed Tillegra Dam will cut a section of around 15 kilometres of the existing Salisbury Road, located between Tillegra Bridge and Underbank.  An alternative route must be provided prior to construction of the dam wall.  Six potential road relocation options were identified and placed on public exhibition in May/June 2007 – refer to the brochure and feedback form. 

The majority of respondents to the feedback survey expressed a preference for a low road, on the basis that it was considered to have the least environmental impact, less impact on landholders’ properties and agricultural land, and would require the least amount of infrastructure to access the dam for recreational opportunities.  A report on the outcome of the public exhibition process by Consultants GHD is available by clicking here. 

Hunter Water convened a facilitated stakeholder workshop in Dungog in early August 2007 to further refine the preferred route for the affected section of Salisbury Road from a whole-of-community perspective.  Participants at the workshop included members of the Tillegra Dam Community Reference Group, Dungog Council, Telstra, Department of Planning, and Bendolba-Salisbury Rural Fire Service.  The workshop process supported the outcomes from the broader community consultation.  A report on the workshop process and outcomes is available by clicking here.  

Hunter Water subsequently engaged Opus International Consultants to undertake the design of the new roads based on the indicative low road option that was identified through stakeholder consultation.  Opus International will further refine the indicative route through detailed modelling of the terrain, geotechnical and hydrological parameters to fine-tune the road alignment, long-sections and cross-sections.  They will complete their work in two phases:

• Concept design – scheduled to be completed around April 2008
• Detail design – scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008

A number of roads in the Quart Pot Creek area will also be impacted by the dam proposal.  Preferred routes will be determined in consultation with the affected landowners in the area, along with agency stakeholders.

An environmental assessment of the preferred routes will be undertaken as part of the Environmental Assessment Report (EAR) for the overall Tillegra project. 

Part 3A Environmental Assessment Process

In November 2007 the NSW Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, formally declared the Tillegra Dam proposal to be “of State and regional environmental planning significance”.  The proposal is subject to rigorous assessment under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act.

Matters to be considered include potential impacts on:

• Water quality
• Environmental water flows
• Riparian vegetation
• Cultural and heritage values
• Terrestrial flora and fauna
• Movement of fish and other aquatic species
• Socio-economic impacts and opportunities

Hunter Water lodged the Tillegra Dam Project Application (accompanied by the Preliminary Environmental Assessment report) with the NSW Department of Planning in November 2007.  Both documents are available on the Department’s website.

Hunter Water expects to submit the Environmental Assessment Report (EAR) to the Department of Planning for formal consideration around mid-2008.  The EAR will outline the findings of the environmental and social investigations, identifying impacts of the proposed dam and how Hunter Water proposes to manage those impacts.  The Department of Planning will place the EAR on public exhibition around mid-2008, providing the opportunity for all stakeholders, including interested members of the community, to comment formally on the proposal.  Click here for the steps in the Part 3A environmental assessment process.

Dungog Shire Council Planning Review

Hunter Water is sponsoring a land use planning review initiated by Dungog Shire Council. Consultants Planning Workshop Australia are assisting Council in its understanding and response to the strategic implications of the proposed construction of Tillegra Dam.

The work includes a review of Council’s Local Environmental Plan, Development Control Plans, as well as strategic documents such as Council’s tourism and economic policies.
For more information, visit Dungog Shire Council.