Labor wasting millions of dollars and refusing to consider
Dunoon Dam
Labor is wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on a new review of the Far North Coast’s bulk
water supply. They are deliberately excluding Dunoon Dam from the review, despite more
than 10,000 locals signing a petition calling for it to be assessed.
Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan, said the review cannot be taken seriously unless
Dunoon Dam is put back on the table.
“Labor’s refusal to consider Dunoon Dam undermines the credibility of the entire review.
Their approach is ideological, not practical. This is millions of dollars being wasted on a
study designed to ignore the very option that could actually fix our water security,” Mr
Hogan said.
“With community consultation sessions next week, everyone should be asking one simple
question: why isn’t Dunoon Dam being considered?”
“Labor is not listening to the community, they are not listening to common sense, and they
are wasting public money.”
Mr Hogan said it was extraordinary that the review will examine desalination, even though
Rous Water has already found it to be high-cost, complex and unsuitable for supplying inland
communities.
“Rous Water’s own reports state the capital and operating costs for desalination are
‘extremely high’ and that water from a coastal plant cannot be easily or economically
transferred inland,” he said.
The NSW and Australian Governments have jointly committed $5 million to develop a
preliminary business case. The Australian Government is contributing $2.5 million through
the National Water Grid Fund.
Here is a link to the Rous Water Desalination Options Assessment Report (June 2024), which
outlines the high cost and constraints of desalination:
https://councilpapers.rous.nsw.gov.au/documents/s6350/Desalination%20Options%20Assess
ment%20Report.pdf
There will be in-person consultation sessions next week in Lismore, Casino, Ballina. Here is
the link for the details: https://www.water.dcceew.nsw.gov.au/our-work/water
infrastructure/regional-projects/far-north-coast-regional-water-supply-project
ENDS
19 November 2025
Kevin Hogan – 0428 291 307
Immy Cook – 0419 821 142
Authorised by Kevin Hogan MP, National Party of Australia, Lismore, NSW
