Why is the new Pacific Highway going through the Emigrant Creek Dam catchment area?
The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) has announced that the preferred route for the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale upgrade of the Pacific Highway traverses the water catchment areas of Emigrant Creek Dam as well as the Wilsons River Source. During 2001, Rous Water carried out a comprehensive Drinking Water Quality Risk Assessment for Emigrant Creek Dam water supply system. This assessment identified a number of significant water quality risks in the catchment including the existing Pacific Highway. Risks from the highway arise from the potential for accidents causing spillage and runoff of stormwater from the roadways. To ensure the viability of Emigrant Creek Dam and the Wilsons River Source as long term water supplies, Rous Water has requested that the RTA conduct detailed assessment of the generation, transport, transformation and fate of all contaminants generated by the upgraded highway in order to ensure that contaminant inputs to the catchment systems are reduced to an acceptable leve
