Update: 2.00pm
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A Mid-Western Regional Council spokesperson, when asked about the organised protest, told the Mudgee Guardian,
“A proposed street march that has been recently publicised to occur in Church and Market Streets on Saturday 8 September has not been approved by the Local Traffic Committee or Mid-Western Regional Council,”
“Council wishes to advise this is not a Council sanctioned event.”
“The matter has been referred to the Orana LAC.”
Earlier
A group of passionate local water users are planning to walk the streets of Mudgee on Saturday in protest of a proposed water transfer between regional dams.
The protest is the next step in a saga that began in June this year when residents raised concerns about a planned bulk water transfer from Windamere to Burrendong Dam.
The concerns center around the resulting water levels if the transfer was to proceed with the group worried Windamere Dam near Mudgee would end up at a water percentage that they believe would be dangerous and troublesome for users.
In a press release from Mid-Western Regional Councillor, Russell Holden who is also one of the protest organisers and spokesperson for the water users, he states, “Dam levels could be set to be as low as 19% if the proposed 54 gig a litre Bulk Water Transfers goes ahead as planned in November. Local residents, water users and farmers are rightfully concerned”
On August 11, a smaller protest was held at the boat ramp at Windamere Dam with approximately 80 adults and children attending, some with placards that read ‘Who is looking after Windamere’ and ‘Our water our dam, hands off’.
Read more: What’s happening with Windamere Dam?
Talking to the Mudgee Guardian following the August protest, Russell Holden said he was “very confident” the National Party didn’t want a kerfuffle in water and doesn’t want to get between ‘500 and 1000’ people marching down Church and Market Streets in Mudgee in September.
It is unclear if the movement has the support necessary to reach such numbers – an associated Facebook page, ‘Hands Off Our Water’ has about 250 likes – but the march will be going ahead regardless.
The protest will begin with the group assembling at the Community Park on Church Street at 10.30am for an 11.00am march down Church and Market Streets, with the group finally assembling at the rotunda in Robertson Park at 11.15am.