Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We've been blessed lately with substantial rain in our area. This has led to catchments being able to start to fill dams, which, during the drought, had been critically low. Chaffey Dam, was one of the ones that we first went to work on—when I say 'we', I mean the coalition when the coalition took the seat of New England. We took it from 60,000 megs to 100,000 megs. That didn't happen under Labor. It's now at 30.6 per cent, which relieved some of the water restrictions for the city of Tamworth.

Copeton Dam, which is one of the biggest dams in inland New South Wales, is at 16.3 per cent now, but that's about 200,000 megs of water. Glenbawn Dam is close to half full at 46.3 per cent. Split Rock, which has always had a problem with its catchment, is at 4.7 per cent. Even after all this rain, it's only at 4.7 per cent. Keepit, which supplies a lot of the water for the cotton industry around Narrabri, is about 26 per cent full—only a quarter full. It just goes to show you what a low base we're starting from and reinforces the need for further dams to be built. The coalition is doing that. Dungowan Dam is a classic example of one where work is soon to be underway. We look forward to other dams, such as one on Swamp Oak or Mullet Creek. These are essential in building our nation and making us a stronger place.