Yesterday Deb and I flew in to Canberra and drove to Queanbeyan to meet with our candidate for Monaro, David Madew. David’s family are very well known in the Queanbeyan region and he is passionate about protecting and serving his community.

David told us that as he has moved around the Monaro electorate, people constantly complain that Labor has failed to properly invest in regional communities, especially in this part of the world, and that the people of Monaro deserve better.

I agree with David, and that’s why we spent the today talking about the number one issue of concern to the community – Labor’s water crisis.

This morning we met with Jim Maclachlan - Mayor of Palerang, and Frank Pangallo MBE - Mayor of Queanbeyan City Council, about our plan to secure Queanbeyan’s water supply.

We then headed across to Googong Dam where we unveiled our $70 million action plan to secure the water supply of Queanbeyan and the surrounding region. After years of inaction by Sydney Labor, it is time for serious decisions and a real investment in critical water infrastructure. Our plan includes the following initiatives to secure the water supply for Queanbeyan and surrounding towns:

• Guaranteed water for Queanbeyan and Bungendore from Googong Dam

• A Feasibility Study on Tennent Dam

• A Queanbeyan/Southern Tablelands Regional Water Grid

• Water Recycling and a new groundwater source for Bungendore

• An Upgrade of Braidwood’s Sewage Treatment Plant
  

• An Upgrade of Cooma’s two Water Supply Reservoirs

• Fix Nimmitabel’s Water Crisis by building the Pigring Creek Catchment

• A $1500 Rainwater Tank Rebate when they are plumbed into toilets/washing machines

• Install rainwater tanks in State Government buildings

The Nationals’ candidate for Monaro, David Madew, has driven the development of this Action Plan. He has worked hard to consult industry experts and local stakeholders to develop an achievable plan that will deliver results.  

Everywhere I go across our State people are distraught because of Labor’s failure to secure our water supply. Our $1 billion Drought-Proofing NSW Water infrastructure fund is providing the answers to the water problems of our state. 

Peter Debnam