Media Release: Tamworth Council’s policy on EDF’s pumped hydro project remains ambiguous.

On 2 June 2026, Tamworth Regional Council voted on a resolution about Tamworth’s water security. The Dungowan Creek Alliance thanks Councillor Rodda for bringing this important matter before Tamworth Regional Council.

But the Alliance is disappointed that Council did not vote for all of Cr Rodda’s motion. After the vote, Council’s policy on EDF’s pumped hydro project remains ambiguous, and Council failed to clearly protect the infrastructure that underpins Tamworth’s water security — Dungowan Dam and the town water pipes.

Councillors had a chance to clear up the confusion about Council’s position: is it too early to support or oppose the pumped hydro project, or does Council support the project in principle without knowing the details?

Instead, councillors voted against confirming a simple fact — that Council has never voted to support EDF’s project in principle. Only Crs Rodda and Brook voted to confirm the fact.

Ratepayers are entitled to ask whether Council now supports EDF’s project in principle.

Councillors also had a chance to clearly say that French government-owned EDF cannot access Dungowan Dam or Tamworth’s town water pipes for its pumped hydro project. They failed to do that too.

Water security is not just about how much water is in the dam on any particular day. The water comes and goes. The infrastructure remains.

Dungowan Dam, the town water pipes, the land around the dam, and the water rights connected with those assets are what underpin Tamworth’s water security.

Last night Council failed to protect that infrastructure. Instead, Council effectively said: “trust us — we will protect water security”. But ratepayers deserve more than that. They deserve a clear public resolution that Dungowan Dam, the town water pipes and other assets are off limits.

We are also disappointed that councillors will now attend a closed-door workshop, with no date set and no community consultation. The community has not been invited and remains in the dark about Council’s intentions. Transparency is sorely lacking.

Tamworth’s water-security assets were built to supply Tamworth and the region, not to support a private, foreign-owned pumped hydro project.

The Alliance will continue to press Council to clarify its position and to protect the town water supply assets in the Dungowan Valley.