Focus groups to gain a wide variety of perspectives, from as many people as possible, is vital to plot a course for water security in Uralla Shire, according to a spokesperson for ZNET Uralla’s Let’s Talk About Water project.
University of NSW Professor Matthew Kearnes and The Global Water Institute’s Professor Stuart Khan are running a series of focus groups in May to further broaden the range of experiences and ideas identified by Let’s Talk About Water.
“The perspectives of everyday people, from many sections of the community, are necessary to identify effective water supply options that are most likely to be adopted by local residents and organisations,” Prof. Kearnes said.
The first focus group will be held in Arding Hall on Thursday 13 May to focus on rural landholders.
“Are you a rural landholder reliant on tank and bore water? Did you have to purchase water during the drought? Are you concerned about groundwater resources?” he said.
The second focus group will be held in Uralla on Friday 14 May for town residents. Uralla’s town residents recently bore the brunt of the water shortages and lived on bottled water for months after traces of arsenic was found in the Uralla town water supply.
The final focus group will be held at Wilhelmshohe on Saturday 15 May for landholders in the Kentucky Creek Dam catchment.
To get involved in one of the focus groups, email events(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)zneturalla.org.au or phone 0413 565253.
ZNET, in partnership with Uralla Council and UNSW Global Water Institute, is facilitating conversations across the community to hear about the impacts of the recent drought and to explore community options for water security.
“Everyone brings a unique perspective to the discussion and can help to provide a more comprehensive picture of the best water supply solutions,” Prof. Kearnes said.
