Gunnedah Demands Regional Voice in Pipeline Debate

GUNNEDAH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEDIA RELEASE

Chamber President Exposes Flawed Consultation and Launches Namoi-wide Response

Gunnedah, NSW – 14 April 2025

The Gunnedah & District Chamber of Commerce is calling out the NSW Government for its failure to engage the very communities most impacted by the proposed Keepit Dam to Tamworth pipeline. Chamber President CJ Baldry Adams has publicly condemned the so-called consultation process, describing it as deliberately narrow, poorly executed, and fundamentally misleading.

“For months, the Chamber has been raising red flags around the lack of consultation, transparency, and due diligence,” said Ms Baldry Adams. “Despite water security being at the top of our agenda, Gunnedah and the wider Namoi Catchment was excluded entirely from the government’s engagement activities. These were confined to Tamworth, a city that stands only to benefit. That’s not genuine consultation. That’s a strategic omission.”

The stakeholder engagement activities conducted earlier this year have now concluded, and it has become undeniably clear that the government sought input only from a region that aligns with its desired outcome. The optics cannot be ignored there was no intent to properly consult those communities whose water resources, industries, and futures are directly on the line.

“This process hasn’t passed the sniff test. The narrative has been shaped from the outset to present the Keepit pipeline as the only viable option. And without the voices of irrigators, farmers, mining companies, First Nations groups, or even councils within the catchment, that narrative has gone unchallenged until now.”

Following direct advocacy from the Chamber including a front-page editorial titled “Water is Wealth” in the Gunnedah Times, a keynote speech at the Upper Namoi Water Symposium, positive and in partnership conversations with our local Government - the NSW Government’s silence has finally cracked. Not even 24 hours after Gunnedah Shire Council's media release was issued, an urgent meeting was called by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW) with our council. 

“Let’s be clear this sudden reaction isn’t coincidence. The alarm bells we’ve been ringing are finally being heard,” said Ms Baldry Adams. “The Chamber has had a strong hand in bringing this issue into the light. We’ve pushed, we’ve published, and we’ve have spoken at forums because we know what’s at stake. And now the government is in damage control.”

But the Chamber warns that this reaction, while welcome, is only the beginning. Gunnedah is just one part of a much larger picture, and this conversation must expand to include the entire Namoi Basin. The communities who rely on the Keepit system for water, for agriculture, for business, and for life itself must be given a seat at the table. Anything less is a betrayal of regional New South Wales.

In response, the Gunnedah & District Chamber of Commerce is launching the Namoi Water Security Roundtable - a region-wide initiative to unite councils, businesses, landholders, industry, and community leaders across the Namoi Catchment. This platform will serve as the collective voice of those who were left out, a voice that is not only informed but impossible to ignore.

“This is not just a pipeline debate. This is a fight for the future of our region. It’s about liveability, investment confidence, agricultural productivity, and our right to be part of decisions that shape our livelihoods. This cannot and will not be decided behind closed doors.”

The Chamber is urging all stakeholders to step forward because this isn’t just about Gunnedah. This is about every community, every user, and every person who depends on the strength and sustainability of the Namoi. And together, their voices will carry.

About Gunnedah & District Chamber of Commerce

Gunnedah & District Chamber of Commerce is the leading voice for local business in the Gunnedah region. Representing a diverse membership base, the Chamber advocates for economic development, supports small to large businesses, and fosters collaboration across industries. Through events, advocacy, and engagement, the Chamber is committed to building a thriving and resilient business community across Gunnedah and the wider Namoi region.