With a new dam off the table NSW councils are looking underground. 

Rous County Council, the water supplier for Lismore, Ballina, Richmond Valley, and Byron shires in New South Wales, is exploring underground water supply options after public backlash stalled plans for a new dam. 

A recent report from the council highlighted that demand for water is expected to outstrip “secure yield” by next year. 

To address this, Rous has allocated $156 million for a future water programme, with over $130 million set to be spent investigating and establishing a water supply from underground aquifers over the next decade. 

This includes the installation of bores into the deep Clarence-Moreton aquifer near Alstonville and investigations into sites around Woodburn and Tyagarah. 

Phillip Rudd, Rous general manager, says that the council is exploring “additional groundwater sites, potentially desalination, recycled water, and other surface water storage systems” as part of its strategy to improve the security of its water supply. 

The operational plan has allocated $19 million for land acquisition for the groundwater supply network, although Mr Rudd said land for acquisition could not be identified until investigations were complete. 

He added that Rous would prefer a voluntary approach to land acquisition, stating, “historically, that's been quite successful in our approach”. 

While the council’s decision has been welcomed by some, concerns have been raised about the environmental impact of sourcing groundwater from Tyagarah, a coastal area just north of Byron Bay. 

Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon stated he had “serious concerns” about this, but recognised the challenge of long-term water availability. 

“It's a wicked problem,” he said. 

“Doing nothing isn't an option and we are going to be facing some difficult choices, I would suggest, in the not-too-distant future.” 

Rous County Council has put its draft operational plan on public exhibition on its website for further public consultation.