Opposed to lowering the wall or seeing the dam closed, Bethungra resident Gaylene Crabtree, with the support of Prue Lambert and Bev Sloan, started a petition to voice their opinion to the Department of Land and Property Management Authority (LPMA) workshop.

Unable to take part in the invitation-only meeting, Mrs Crabtree said she was greatly concerned about the lack of local faces present at the talks, fearing the town’s voice might not be fully heard.

Feeling a petition was the only way to go, Mrs Crabtree said many wanted to see the dam wall strengthened.

“If it was lowered by two metres it would hold a lot less water and would overflow,” she said.

“They are concerned about the overflow now.

“I think they either need to strengthen the wall or leave it as is.”

Wagga man Keith Brosnan has been using the dam for fishing and camping for almost two decades.

Fearful the dam could be lost, he too started an online petition and Facebook group in the hope a united voice could save the asset.

“I’ve been fishing there for 16 years or more now,” he

said.

“It’s a great spot for fishing and for camping.

“I don’t want to see it demolished because it’s an asset

to Bethungra and for the fire season.

“If it’s gone there will be no one going there and no

(water) reserves for the fire season.”

His petition, and that of Mrs Crabtree, were tables at the private meeting for consideration.

More than 400 people have joined the Facebook group, Save Bethungra Dam.

Junee Shire Council engineering services manager Colin Macaulay moved to allay fears, saying the views of

residents were well represented at the meeting.

“There has been a balance of opinions,” he said.

“There has been a lot of talk as to why the consultants specifically had it as invite only and I can see why.

“If it got too weighed down to one group it would get out of control.

“What they have done is got the right amount of people.

“Their concerns are well represented, with their opinions coming through via one person, opposed to a group of 10 people.

“The frustrations of the community are all recorded and they are all there to go into the study.”