Above: Preston Clark and his children Heath and Larissa Clark. Mr Clark is a recreational angler and was manning the petition stand in Maitland Street, on Wednesday.
Namoi irrigators have expressed concern about a petition that calls for Keepit Dam’s minimum storage level to remain at 20 per cent of capacity during future droughts.
“It would decimate Wee Waa, it would mean a loss of $205 million annually out of the local economy of Narrabri, Wee Waa and Gunnedah,” said Namoi Water executive officer Jon-Maree Baker.
Keepit Dam has a storage capacity equal to the size of Sydney Harbour but has dropped to its lowest level on record, below 0.5 per cent.
The plummeting water level has prompted recreational anglers from the Lake Keepit and The Pub Tamworth fishing clubs to circulate a petition calling for a future 20 per cent storage requirement.
“We’ve called for a 20 per cent watermark level to be held in all NSW storages” said president of the Lake Keepit Family Fishing club, Anne Michie.
“Keepit is the poster child for dam abuse and water mismanagement.
“Keepit is a gravesite and a disaster. It’s the result of mismanagement of the water and over-allocation.
The recreational anglers aim to get 10,000 signatures and then present the petition to the NSW Legislative Assembly.
