"Federal Member for Calare John Cobb has today {21 Jan 2014] called for the construction of a new dam in the central west, as the solution to the lack of water storage, and addressing job losses in our region.

Mr Cobb has proposed the construction of a 90,000ML dam at Needles Gap near Canowindra, and today called on the State and Federal governments to back the plan.

“We need this Needles Dam project now more than ever,” Mr Cobb said."

http://www.johncobb.com.au/MediaHub/FederalRounds/tabid/90/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2198/Cobb-pushes-for-new-dam-project.aspx
This was raised again on the ABC a few days ago.
The building of this dam would destroy significant limestone caves and is bound to be opposed, initially $3,000,000 would be spent on a feasibility study.
Anyone see a glaringly obvious reason why a $3 million study is not needed?

Well, what I hope, not to see, is a repeat of the Traverston debacle whereby our then premier, Anna Bligh, went off on a tangent, bought up all the land, displaced many families and farmers, then leased some farms back at ridiculous rates, (one case being a farm bought for ten million, has been leased back to the seller for about a thousand a year until the dam construction starts.

Now that's fine, except in all her wisdom, she forgot the most important step in the process, gaining federal environmental approval, which was later denied by the then enviro minister, Mr Garrett.

So, some $600 million later, we have no dam and no interest in anyone buying the land back at anywhere near what she paid. In fact, Campbell Newman is reported to be trying to force the guy with the ten mill in the bank to surrender his lease and buy the land back. Yer right!

So I hope for your sake your premier has a bit more experience about them and doesn't go off half cocked like Bligh did. Of cause they don't care because it's not as if their still up effect their set for life pensions, is it.

I've found the following link on the web
which may be of interest:

http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/story/2365057

Is Mise,

Meaney!

That $3m is only a drop in the bucket where aboriginal cultural significance is being investigated, along with those cave-dwelling bats they didn't get around to eating.

How very politically correct of all so far not to mention any of that too! Self censorship, 'free-speech-as-long-as-no-certified-victim-group-is-upset' IS modern Oz that is for sure.

Heh, heh, the ABC 'fact checkers' waiting in the wings are keeping their big spoon for stirring well buffed. First let the dam proposers walk into the killing field, plumb square in the sights of that big wooden spoon and then let them have it, fair up the Khyber, as is its style. So 'Progressive' it hurts.

On Traverston
That dam had been investigated, reviewed and discussed to exhaustion. It is very strange that while both governments involved were Labor, no-one had even thought to say 'Whoa there!'. It might help to remind that the federal minister, a clown called Peter Garrett made his 'final' decision (?!) after the Queensland government had already resumed land. The forced second option had an environmental impact too and wasted millions of dollars.

After the dam was shelved, only the anti-dam victors got to write the history and most fulsome they were in their own praise and self-righteous justification, too. They excluded such minor details as the regular flooding soon after that devastated homes, property and crops. The antis also failed to mention the over-zealous immigration policies of the same federal government that require enormous expenditure by States on new infrastructure, particularly water and energy. Compartmentalised minds with blinkers on are convenient.

Is Mise, it is only taxpayers' money and there is far more where that comes from for the guvvy gravy train to keep on going, apparently. So never you mind, hear? Be sure to bend over for the privilege.

OTB,

As I asked, "Anyone see a glaringly obvious reason why a $3 million study is not needed?" apart from there being better dam sites in NSW and if we need water, and we do; how about sending some of that Nth Qld coastal river water inland?

"how about sending some of that Nth Qld coastal river water inland?"

'Initiatives', such as starting fires with a home insulation scheme come first.

Redirecting any water will see the very same serial activists and political interests coming out of the woodwork again. The sad *bleeps* with personal defiance disorder who seek personal vindication and 5 minutes of fame out of making 'authority' back down.