Troy Stolz says he’s disappointed his Upper Hunter Shire Council colleagues didn’t support his call for immediate intervention on the poor water quality in Merriwa and Cassalis.
The motion was not endorsed overnight including by fellow Merriwa councillor Pat Ryan.
Councillor Stolz told the chamber the problem is creating health issues.
A watered-down amended motion by George Fraser was subsequently passed.
Upper Hunter Shire Council has agreed to conduct random water tests of 5 to ten homes in Merriwa and Cassalis to see where the problem with the quality lies.
The suggestion by the Mayor, Maurice Collison follows the defeat of a motion put forward by local councillor Troy Stolz and the endorsement of a watered-down version by Councillor George Fraser.
- Within 28 days, the General Manager provide a report to Council detailing any and all testing results for town water at Merriwa and Cassilis that are not within acceptable limits defined in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
- Broad community consultation, including through the Merriwa Community Advisory Committee be engaged in in Merriwa and Cassilis within 90 days, with respect to water quality in those towns, and a report of those consultations be provided to the Infrastructure Committee.
- Merriwa Community Advisory Committee is to advise Council as part of directions in 2 above, the level of interest of residents of Merriwa and Cassilis in:
(a) establishment or modification of a dedicated Council water filtration and treatment plant; or,
(b) installation of water treatment/filtration at residential properties; and
(c)the appropriate sharing of costs of installation of said water filtration/treatment between Council and residents
The random tests will only be conducted between the water metres of randomly chosen properties to inside the homes with lines then to be flushed to see if that makes a difference.
