Susanna Freymark
Mayor Danielle Mulholland wants Kyogle Council to take action on the CSIRO flood report and the proposed detention basins.
Ms Mulholland will be putting to the meeting today, Monday, August 10 that the council:
- Write to the Prime Minster, the Premier, MP, State MP Janelle Saffin and Federal MP Kevin Hogan to express the strong objection by the community to the proposed use of large scale flood detention basins within the Kyogle LGA.
- Request that the evaluation and assessment and of any proposal involving detention basins includes consultation with potentially impacted landholders, local communities and the council, together with full public disclosure of the economic, environmental, social, infrastructure and agricultural risks and impacts, and construction costs.
- Advocate that any future flood mitigation investigations prioritise solutions that do not result in the permanent loss or significant impairment of prime agricultural land, rural communities, environmental assets or critical local infrastructure.
Here is a summary of the mayor’s report that will be discussed at the meeting at 2pm today.
The concern is about the construction of large scale flood detention basins throughout the upper reaches of the Richmond River catchment as outlined in the recent CSIRO report.
While the report remains preliminary and a feasibility study has been recommended before any decision is made (the government has committed $3million to this so far), the scale of what is being contemplated raises significant concerns for the region.
Although commonly described as dams, these structures are in fact detention basins. Unlike dams, they are not designed to permanently store water but rather to temporarily hold back floodwaters before releasing them once downstream river levels have fallen.
Nevertheless, the physical footprint of these structures is substantial, with some proposed basins extending approximately 650 metres in width.
The council is concerned that the areas identified for detention basins include productive agricultural valleys such as Gradys Creek, Collins Creek and Eden Creek. These areas contain prime agricultural land that underpins the local economy and is a resource that should be protected.
The construction of detention basins of this magnitude has the potential to fundamentally alter rural landscapes, affect farming enterprises, disrupt transport networks and impact communities that have existed for generations.
At present, many critical questions remain unanswered. 
There is no clear information regarding the extent of land acquisition that may be required, the loss of productive farmland, impacts on roads and bridges, consequences for biodiversity and native habitat, effects on cultural and historical values, or the long term implications for the community.
Similarly, there is little detail regarding compensation arrangements, funding sources or project timeframes.
Kyogle Council has consistently demonstrated its willingness to work collaboratively with neighbouring councils and governments to address regional flood resilience.
However, collaboration must be equitable.
It is unreasonable to expect one community to absorb significant economic, environmental and social costs where the primary benefits accrue elsewhere in the catchment.
Before proposals of this magnitude progress any further, governments must demonstrate that all reasonable alternatives have been fully assessed, that the benefits clearly outweigh the impacts.
Until that occurs, Kyogle Council should formally advise the Commonwealth and NSW governments that it does not support the inclusion of large-scale detention basins within the Kyogle LGA.
Councillors will asked to vote for or against this action at the meeting today.