An announcement by the NSW Government that the Wilcannia Weir has been “put on hold” is yet another blow for the remote community of Wilcannia.
Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey said the people of Wilcannia had been the definition of patience, fighting doggedly for new infrastructure to replace the weir built in the 1940s.
“There are reports that feasibility studies on a new weir began back in 1969,” Mr Chaffey said.
“This is the remote north-western town of Wilcannia’s source of sustainable water, and yet they have waited through feasibility studies, design processes, consultation processes, talkfests, and inspections– and still, no weir.
“The community had agreed to a design that was costed at $30million. The previous Coalition Federal and State Governments both committed $15 million for the project and construction was planned to begin, then there was a change of Government in NSW, which triggered a redesign of the project, that went directly against the communities wishes, these delays caused the cost to rise astronomically and has put the project costing at $130 million according to a statement by the NSW Water Minister.
The community has patiently worked through consultation and design, through delays and sudden changes of direction.
“The project was put on hold in 2024 when an independent review followed community dissatisfaction with the redesign. Now we hear it has been ‘put on hold’ again, and for how long is unclear. Let’s face it, it is not going to get any cheaper.
“This is not something off a wish list. This is certainty of a New South Wales town’s water supply, their lifeline for the future and a very important link to their cultural past.”
Mr Chaffey said he had taken the urgent need for more funds to the Albanese Labor Government, but the plea had fallen on deaf ears.
“This is an absolute disgrace and yet another example of Labor governments letting down the regional people who are just as much part of our nation as residents of Sydney or Melbourne. It is just kicking the can down the road for successive governments to deal with and, in the meantime, Wilcannia suffers.”
“If the Labor Government were serious about closing the gap, they would stop treating the people of Wilcannia like second class citizens and fund the Weir to secure their water supply.
“I will continue to call out the Federal Government and the NSW Government and urge them to work with the Wilcannia community to get this project off hold and back on track.”
“And I’ll do what I can to make sure a future Coalition Government; we will look at what funding is available to get this project finally built for the people of Wilcannia.”
ENDS
Caption: Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey met with Wilcannia residents in 2025 to take a look at the historic weir which is desperately in need of replacement.
Media contact: Marie Low | 0491 940 108 | marie.low@aph.gov.au