BETHUNGRA and Junee shire residents will have once chance next week to find out what the state government is planning for the village’s dam.
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After appointing engineers in December last year, the state government will brief locals on their plan to maintain Bethungra Dam on October 7.
It’s more than 15 years since the dam was officially declared as ‘unsafe’.
“There’s been a lot of cynicism about the safety factors involved,” mayor Neil Smith.
“You’ve got to wonder about how urgent they thought it was.”
Councillor Smith said the state government’s work paved the way for council to invest their own dollars including on information signage and an improved walkway to the dam wall.
“We knew what the outcome would be, there was no way they could get rid of it,” Bethungra resident Gaylene Crabtree.
Mrs Crabtree said the village’s community hoped to see further investment on the dam which was significant tourism and fire safety asset.
Member for Cootamundra Katrina Hodgkinson said the work to support the dam wall was expected to start next year with tenders being called for this month.
The work will strengthen the wall with a buttress filled with rocks from the Bethungra spiral stockpile provided by the ARTC.
“The project significantly improves the dam’s safety and maintains the dam’s current water level so that it can continue to be used for recreational purposes by the local community,” she said.
“Technical reports submitted to the NSW Dam Safety Committee supported the reduction of the hazard rating for Bethungra Dam from high to low.
“I encourage community members to take advantage of the information sessions in Junee or in Bethungra on the proposed safety improvements at Bethungra Dam,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
Public briefings
- Wednesday October 7
- From 4pm at the Junee Library
- From 6.30pm at the Bethungra Old School T-House