AN example of a similar issue closer to home, according to Mr Barratt, is underground pipeline that links the Goulburn water supply system to the Sydney Water’s supply at Wingecarribee Reservoir.
“Goulburn was in dire straits with a serious drought and there was a real possibility the town could run out of water,” Mr Barratt said.
“The local council, state and federal governments all put in millions of dollars to build a pipeline and provide the region with emergency water supplies from the Wingecarribee Dam.”
Shoalhaven River water is used to stock that facility.
“Having a constant water source, there was then talk of being able to grow Goulburn, not only with housing but industry,” Mr Barratt said.
“And as the town also had the gas pipeline it was an attractive proposition.
“There were proposals to drop water into the Mulwaree Ponds to increase environmental flow in the Wollondilly.
“That was water we might have needed for environmental flow in the Shoalhaven River.
“It is an around-about way of growing a community elsewhere but they haven’t got the water capacity let alone other resources to allow an increase.”