We are all local people who have lived in, and served the community of Harden-Murrumburrah for decades.

Our vision? Protecting the natural beauty and sustainability of Cunningham Valley.

Our mission?  To act as custodians of the valley for future generations.

We all want Harden-Murrumburrah and our shire villages of Jugiong, Wombat, Galong and Kingsvale to flourish.

We are FOR Harden Shire’s attempts to support development and progress.

We are AGAINST the proposed location of Blantyre Farms’ mega-piggery.

We are seriously concerned about the potential impact the mega-piggery could have on the Murrumbidgee Catchment Area.

Piggeries require a lot of water for the pigs to drink and to flush the manure from the sheds daily.

Surface water run off from paddocks where effluent has been spread is highly likely given the topography of the area.

Groundwater depletion, bores drying up and contamination of ground and surface water are a very real threat.

The waters from Cunningham Creek enter Jugiong Creek and eventually come back to Harden as drinking water.

Harden Shire is not yet prepared for an influx of intensive agriculture.

We believe we must proceed with caution.

Our aim is to help individuals be fully informed about the proposal in order to make their own decision.

At this point in time we feel that the community is seriously uninformed.  

The community consultation, which is required as part of developing an Environmental Impact Statement for the proposal, did not occur.

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) submitted was largely prepared by the proponent without independent expert advice.

Subsequent review of the EIS by a range of experts has repeatedly identified errors, inconsistencies and claims that cannot be substantiated.

To take just one example, the proponent says the piggery will not be seen from Jugiong Road.

However, true-to-life architectural representations, based on the information provided in the EIS, show that it will be clearly seen from multiple places on Jugiong Road, Bouyeo Road, Wynwood Road, McMahon’s Reef Road, Wyoming Estate and Cemetery Road near the proposed look out.

The multiple errors in the Environmental Impact Statement do not inspire confidence in the proponent.

We encourage you to explore the Cunningham Valley Action Group’s website to gain further information.

Julia Atkin

On Behalf of the Cunningham Valley Action Group

I would like to take this opportunity to clarify some matters relating to recent correspondence to a local paper regarding the proposed merger of Boorowa, Harden and Young Shire councils.

Such clarification should not be interpreted as any sort of personal attack and is supported by audited data which has been freely available on the Young Shire website for approximately three months.  

Your readers may not be aware that the Local Government Act requires all councils to post their Audited Financial reports on their websites along with the Annual Report no later than five months after the end of the financial year.

The Young Shire audited financial reports for the financial year ended June 30, 2015 shows the total loan debt held by Young Shire Council was $13,570,000.

The largest part of this debt is attributable to borrowings for renewal of the Young sewerage treatment plant.

All loan repayments for the sewerage system renewal borrowings are fully funded by the Young Sewerage Operations fund and not from anywhere else.

In essence, only those properties which are able to connect to the Young Sewerage system will pay for the system.

In order that future users of the system will also contribute to the capital cost of the renewals, council has elected to use borrowings as the primary financing method.

This will ensure that there is some inter-generational equity in terms of cost for both current and future communities.

No doubt your readers would be aware that councils are required to disclose their levels of restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments in their financial reports and I am pleased to confirm that Young Shire held reserves of more than $17 million consolidated across the general fund, water fund and sewerage fund as at June 30, 2015.

I can assure you and your readers that Young Shire is not struggling under debt, as may have been suggested.

In fact, the record shows that it has achieved five consecutive years of operating surpluses and continually maintained a cash expense cover ratio well above the benchmark for the same period.

I encourage everyone to visit their local council’s website and familiarise themselves with the facts relating to the financial performance of local government so that the debate may continue in an informed and constructive manner.

Brian Ingram

Harden

The 13th consecutive Cootamundra "Old Blokes No Frills Reunion" will be held on Saturday and and Sunday, February 27 and 28 commencing at the Country Club at 2pm on the Saturday and continuing until the club closes.

Sunday will see golf and lawn bowls at the Country Club followed by entertainment at the Central Hotel by the Cook twins.

Everyone is welcome even if you have only driven through Coota!

A weekend not to be missed, come and renew friendships and reminisce with old mates and girlfriends.

Hope to see you there.

PS Where is Coota? Half way between Wallendbeen and Bethungra.

Peter "Simpy" Simpfendorfer

Wagga

Do you have something to say about a local, state, national or international issue? We want to hear what the people of Harden, Murrumburrah and surrounds think. Email your submissions to bbarker@fairfaxmedia.com.au or mail to 48 Trail Street, Wagga, 2650.