Graffiti more than a minor nuisance

DARRELL TIEMENS, MAYOR, NARRABRI SHIRE

Graffiti and tagging are not minor nuisances. They damage public and private property, make our towns look neglected and leave ratepayers paying for the clean-up.

At our October council meeting, councillors approved up to $100,000 for an enhanced graffiti removal program. Importantly, this funding will be found by reallocating existing budget funds, rather than adding to council’s overall expenditure.

I brought this matter to council because I want a practical response. Graffiti on council property should be reported to police and properly recorded. We also need a better picture of tagging on private property, and closer cooperation with property owners. Removing graffiti promptly, particularly along main roads and in prominent public places, must be a priority.

There is also an opportunity to involve Lions, Rotary, Rotaract and other community volunteers. I want those responsible identified, prosecuted where appropriate, and required to meet clean-up costs where possible. Our communities deserve better than having the same walls and facilities repeatedly defaced.

Another issue demanding serious attention is Tamworth Regional Council’s proposal for an inter-valley water pipeline.

Tamworth’s draft Water Security Plan identifies a pipeline from Keepit Dam as its preferred option, potentially transferring about 10 billion litres of water a year. It proposes starting planning now, with construction potentially triggered if Chaffey Dam falls to 20 per cent capacity. The pipeline has not been approved or funded. Tamworth says it would use its existing water entitlement rather than seek an additional allocation. That distinction matters, but so does the effect on downstream communities during drought.

I fully recognise Tamworth’s need to secure its future water supply. No community should face the prospect of running out of drinking water. However, one community’s water security cannot come at the expense of others downstream.

As chair of the Triple R Water Security Alliance, I am working with six other councils across the Namoi, Barwon and Darling systems, including the mayors of Gunnedah and Walgett, to make our concerns heard. During the last major drought, Keepit Dam was virtually empty. Farmers, businesses and communities throughout the valley know what that meant. Further downstream, Walgett faced serious shortages and had to rely on bore water.

We are calling for independent assessment of the effects of a pipeline during prolonged drought, including impacts on town supplies, agriculture and river flows. The alliance is seeking discussions with NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson and local MPs, and coordinating formal submissions. The draft plan is open for public comment until 25 November.

This is not about Tamworth against its neighbours. It is about securing reliable water for everyone without transferring the risk of drought to another community.

On a positive note, the playground at the new Narrabri Tourism and Cultural Hub is now open, thanks in part to Australian government funding. It is another welcome facility for local families.

Finally, nominations are open for the $10,000 Lillian Hulbert Memorial Prize, recognising outstanding young people aged 15 to 17. Please consider nominating a deserving young person before 30 November.