As you drive along the New England Highway you might be excused for ignoring the attractions of the little township of Wingen. Its major claim to fame is being adjacent to the world’s oldest coal seam fire known as the Burning Mountain which is notable for often not being very “burning” at all when you make the effort and walk along the trail at the nature reserve for a gander.
However in December 2009 Wingen has hit the headlines because for the first time in years the bores have run dry and along with residents all over the Upper Hunter region, Wingenites are having to truck their water in.
The Newcastle Herald reports:
Herald weather expert Don White said there was little hope of relief, with the Hunter expecting a very dry, hot summer.
Mr White said rainfall was predicted to be less than average, temperatures above average and evaporation levels increasing.
The Upper Hunter Shire Council implemented level one water restrictions in Scone and Murrurundi on Thursday.
Read the report in the Newcastle Morning Herald
As the Rudd government dithers over climate change and the Abbott opposition, like little kids who have made a deal with their “invisible friend”, holds its breath and believes it will go away, some communities are already running out of water.
The residents of the small Riverina town of Booligal and farmers in surrounding areas rely on the Lachlan River for their water supply, but without significant rains especially hundreds of miles away in the Lachlan’s headwaters, the river will dry up in the next few weeks. The Wyangala Dam about 40 kms south-east of Cowra is now effectively dry.
Bores are being drilled at Booligal and surrounding towns including Forbes, Lake Cargelligo and Ivanhoe, but the bores may not be sunk before the water completely runs out. Farmers in the region however, are being literally being hung out to dry, facing huge bills just to purchase water for household use and drinking.
Can a water crisis in western Sydney be far away? Despite the Carr,, Iemma, Rees, Keneally government mantra of “Dams, Recycling, Desalination and Water Efficiency”, Sydney’s water reserves continue to fall by around 0.5% per week. Barring significant replenishment we are looking at severe restrictions and hugely increased costs for householders (desal water is very expensive) within a few years – perhaps only 18 months. Needless to say neither the ill-considered lifting of sensible water restrictions by Rees in early 2009 nor constant population growth encouraged by the federal government’s baby bonuses and unfocussed immigration polices is going to reduce the risk of a crisis.
Cattle farmers Matt and Sandra Ireson were interviewed on ABC Radio National Breakfast today.
They run a property at Booligal in the New South Wales Riverina. The Iresons are among the hundreds of farming families who rely on the lower Lachlan River for their water supply. But the river is running dry. Heartbreaking drought and a contentious decision by the New South Wales Government to stop the River at Condobolin has slowed the Lachlan to just a trickle.
You can listen to the interview at Booligal big dry
Residents of Shalvey, Lethbridge Park. Emerton and Whalan have been left high and dry by the recent cuts the 755 bus service. Older residents are particularly affected by the long walk to the new bus route, which sees them have to walk up to 800 metres to Luxford Rd.“Residents are rightly upset that their Busways services have been‘rationalised”, said Sylvia Hale, Greens Spokesperson for Western Sydney.
“Residents have told me that the 755 provided a vital link between local suburbs and that it was a was well patronised.
“I am particularly concerned that less mobile or older residents will have to walk long distances to the new bus route, especially in the heat of the day. The loss of this service may have the effect of isolating some people in their homes.
“It is distressing that Government can allow the removal of a local service despite Busways receiving a significant subsidy from the State Government to provide public transport to the area.
“If it is good enough for the Government to spend billions on its inner-city metro that is proposed to service an area already well if not over supplied with public transport, it is reasonable for people in the Mt Druitt area to expect that local services will be maintained in this area.
“It is appalling that services will stop early on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Does the Government expect people of this area who can’t afford a car to stay home at night and not visit friends or socialise?
“Imagine the uproar if the Government stopped running buses and trains at 7pm on a Saturday night into and out of the city. It is only fair that people in this part of Sydney get a fair go when it comes to going to and from work or socialising.
”I will be asking questions of the Minister in Parliament” said Ms Hale.
Local Shalvey resident and Blacktown Greens Convenor, Debbie Robertson, said residents feel unhappy with the changes. Ms Robertson along with other local community representatives will approach the Minister for Transport, Mr David Campbell, for a meeting to discuss their concerns. “There are many local residents who want to meet with the Minister and we would like the Mayor of Blacktown, Charlie Lowles, to come with us too. We will be requesting that the Government restore the 755 service
to its previous route and that the frequency of the service be improved”, said Ms Robertson.
“While residents agree that the former bus route was a long ride, it did go past the shopping centres and the leisure centre at Emerton that Council spent millions on. Things are now less accessible now.”
“In the last years we have lost the bus service that connected us to Nirimba Campus of UWS and then to Parramatta.
“Route 674 is being held up as an alternative, but it only runs six times Mon-Fri, twice on Saturdays and once on Sunday. This affects everyone, from the school kids who have to wait around for nearly an hour when school finishes early, to the older, less mobile people who want to go to the doctors, to those who want to go for a swim at the Leisure Centre.
“We need the old services back, and we need the new express services so the buses cater for everyone” said Ms Robertson.
