By Jenel Hunt
Stanthorpe people are being given the chance to air their opinions on the subject of what the government can do for water security on the Granite Belt, but the public consultation process on the draft Regional Water Assessment (RWA) won’t give much opportunity for them to do so in person.
In fact, the only public drop-in session planned for Stanthorpe is a two-hour time frame on Thursday 30 November from 1pm at the Stanthorpe Civic Centre Supper Room. A slightly longer session has been planned for 1 December in Warwick at the Warwick RSL from 10.30am.
While those two sessions are open to the general public, the Protect Our Water (POW!) group, which has participated with submissions since the early consultation process, also has a meeting with the RWA representatives on 30 November at Stanthorpe.
POW spokesperson Melissa Hamilton said she believed the RWA considered that the community was represented in the process by the council (Southern Downs Regional Council) but not everyone agreed.
“I think the voice of the community has been missing in the consultation process but this [drop-in session] is an opportunity for people to ask any questions they have,” she said.
The Department of Regional Development Manufacturing and Water is encouraging public responses.
“We would like your feedback and ideas on the options, future actions, community benefits and economic growth to shape the draft Southern and Darling Downs RWA. Public feedback will inform the development of the final Southern and Darling Downs RWA which will subsequently be provided for Queensland Government consideration.”
The State Government’s Southern and Darling Downs Regional Water Assessment draft is a 52-page document that can be downloaded from the Department’s website.
Ways to have your say include online responses or by direct email. Go to the Department of Regional Development Manufacturing and Water website, www.rdmw.qld.gov.au and do a search for Regional Water Assessment.
The Southern and Darling Downs draft can be found and downloaded from the Regional Water Assessment Program page. At the bottom of the page is a link where guided feedback can be submitted or people can email their thoughts to regionalwaterassessments@rdmw.qld.gov.au. Public consultation is open until 5pm on 14 December.
