Where, oh where, is the Wilcannia Weir? This could be the mournful plea from the people of the Far West about a vital utility that has been required for three long decades, without relief.

Long-patient community representatives recently met with Federal Member for Parkes and Shadow Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Jamie Chaffey, on hand to witness first-hand their long battle to secure sustainable water for the district.

“The community has patiently worked with successive state and federal governments through consultation and design, through delays and sudden changes of direction,” Mr Chaffey said.

“A design was agreed on in 2022, then cancelled and replaced with one that was unacceptable to the Wilcannia community in 2023, without consultation,” he added.

Delays, pauses, policy U-turns, and broken promises, have all seen the estimated bill for the capital project now far higher than they would have been if completed when first proposed.

“The cost has now ballooned out and is likely to be in excess of $100 million, but the project is critical for this community. Access to water is essential and the river is Wilcannia’s lifeline,” Mr Chaffey said.

He is now calling on the State Government to “come clean” on the infrastructure and to commit to a design that is acceptable to the community, as well as a concrete start date and an assured outcome, he said.

“I will be seeking a commitment from Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt to make up the shortfall in project funding,” Mr Chaffey said.

“The NSW Government has committed $70 million, and the Labor Government needs to produce the promised $15 million and any other funds that might be needed.”

Local Barkandji man Michael Kennedy said it was time to get the weir underway.

“We need that water and the joy it brings to our community,” Mr Kennedy said. “It’s a proven fact that when the river is up, crime is down,” he added.

He said that his people believe that their fortune is tied to the ebbs and flows of their sacred waterway, The Darling River.

“Our Barkandji people are river people; we feel the river spiritually. When the river is down, we see sadness and depression in the community; we just need to get it done,” he believes.

Grazier Justin McClure said the weir was also vital to Wilcannia’s economic future.

“I think it’s critical to the prosperity and well-being of the Wilcannia community and the Central Darling Shire,” Mr McClure said.

“It will be the catalyst for the next 100 years and is critical to the very existence of Wilcannia,” he concluded.