SOUTHERN Downs Regional Council has confirmed its commitment to preserve the high priority water supply at Leslie Dam for the residents, businesses and industry of Warwick.
Southern Downs Regional Council received a request from SunWater, operator of Leslie Dam, seeking the council’s consideration of a proposal for the release of a significant quantity of water from Leslie Dam to meet the needs of irrigators downstream.
The proposed release would come from the council’s high priority water supply allocation.
Southern Downs Regional Council mayor Tracy Dobie said that the council considered the request at the meeting on Tuesday 3 May.
“The council discussed the request at length, and agreed not to support or endorse the release of the high priority water for irrigation purposes,” she said.
“While the council certainly has sympathy for the growers seeking to utilise the water to finish off their crops, at this stage, urban and industrial uses need to be viewed as the priority.
“The first responsibility of the council is to ensure that there is an adequate supply of water for the current and future residents and businesses of Warwick, and it is important to manage water resources in a very conservative manner, particularly in light of concerns with the existing water levels in Leslie Dam.”
