Town &
! L Y E K E W F RE E
6th April 2023
CountryJournal smallnewspaper.com.au/country-journal/
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TV Guide inside! p.21 Footy Tipping Comp. p.14 Weather outlook p.6 p.7 p.17 p.28 Evacuation Training on the Granite Belt had a guest who impressed.
Smiling faces at the Ann-Marie O’Callaghan Gallery in Stanthorpe.
Border Rivers Rugby League faces here.
Emu Swamp EIS lapsed, will the dam go ahead? Jonathan O’Neill oneill.jonathan1@outlook.com
T
he controversial Emu Swamp Dam has hit another road block, with the CoordinatorGeneral’s evaluation report of the environmental impact statement (EIS), having lapsed on April 1. The Coordinator-General’s report on the EIS for 12,000
megalitre irrigation dam on the Severn River, 15km south west of Stanthorpe was initially released in September 2014, with the initial lapse date of April 1 2022, being extended an additional twelve months. Member for the Southern Downs, James Lister submitted a Question on Notice to the state parliament on Thursday March 30 regarding the Granite Belt Irrigation Project. The question to the Minister
for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water, Glenn Butcher asked, “What the Palaszczuk Government will do to compel SunWater to engage with Emu Swamp Dam and to avoid the expiry of approvals until such time as the outcome of the Regional Water Assessment is known?” The Member for Southern Downs told The Town & Country Journal that SunWater
have been stalling on answering questions regarding the Regional Water Assessment. Mr Lister said that the inaction by SunWater risked the expiry of valuable hard won approvals before the project proceeds and that the dam operator has resisted engagement with Emu Swamp Dam. “With reference to the transfer of documents and approvals applying to the Granite Belt Irrigation Project and Granite
Belt Water Pty Ltd (Emu Swamp Dam) to SunWater on January 19, 2023 at the request of the Minister, the inclusion of Emu Swamp Dam in the Regional Water Assessment, advice that important items of correspondence to SunWater from lawyers representing Emu Swamp Dam have gone unanswered”. The question has not received a response from the Minister, however an answer is due prior to Tuesday May 2, 2023.
Tragic and concerning incidents editor@thedailyjournal.ink
Glenlyon Dam finding The body of a man was located at Glenlyon Dam at 9am on April 3. A search and rescue operation was com-
menced following reports a 21-yearold Miles man and a 26-year-old Miles man were aboard a vessel when the 26-year-old man fell into the water around 5.30pm on April 2. The 26-year-old man was unable to be located at the time. The search recommenced at first light, which included assets from dive
squad, local officers from Stanthorpe and Texas, water police and SES. Investigations are continuing into the circumstances leading up to the incident with identification unknown at the time of printing this edition.
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