Community members gathered in Burren Junction on Tuesday, 19 May, to meet with the Council’s Strategic Plan representatives.
Residents were asked to place dots on the issues they considered most important to the future of Burren Junction. The overwhelming majority of responses focused on water supply, drainage, the bore baths, roads, and sportsgrounds.
One of the strongest concerns raised was the ongoing water crisis affecting the town’s sports ground precinct.
Unlike many towns, Burren Junction does not have a town water supply, with residents relying on private bores or rainwater tanks. The bore that once serviced the sportsground, public toilets and showers, the local hall toilets, and the Rural Fire Service has now collapsed and is no longer operational.
The community has been actively seeking grant funding to overhaul the old sportsground bore area, which has fallen into disrepair and is currently unusable.
Last year, Walgett Shire Council inspected the bore and advised that it was beyond repair. In response, the Burren Junction Progress Association organised for a donated water tank to be installed to collect the small trickle of water still coming from the bore. However, the tank has still not been connected, as Council approval and works are required before it can become operational.
Residents at the meeting expressed serious concern that there is now effectively no water supply available for the sportsground facilities or the Rural Fire Service, describing the situation as an emergency that requires immediate action through the drilling of a new bore.
Community members strongly stated that keeping the project on a grant funding list was “not good enough” and urged Council to instead classify the works as an urgent capital works project requiring immediate funding and attention.
Roads and drainage were also major discussion points during the meeting.
Residents requested that Tareela Lane be graded within the next six weeks, noting that current conditions following recent rain make it an ideal time for the work to be completed.
The condition of the Burren Junction Bore Baths also drew significant concern from community members. Residents said the baths require more regular cleaning and maintenance, particularly the use of granulated chlorine rather than liquid chlorine, as algae build-up has become excessive and is creating a slipping hazard.
Several residents commented that visitors had expressed disappointment at the state of the Burren Junction baths compared to other bore baths across the shire.
The cleanliness of public toilets was also discussed, with requests made for Council’s local maintenance worker to undertake more regular cleaning using basic equipment such as brooms, mops, buckets, or pressure hoses. Community members said visitors had also complained about the condition of public toilet facilities, including those at the bore baths.
Despite the concerns raised, residents acknowledged and appreciated the current works being undertaken by Council to raise the walls of the dam that holds overflow water from the bore baths.
However, questions were asked about whether funding for those works would impact drainage projects already allocated to Hastings Street, Corunna Street, and the area outside the school and local hotel.
Community members also sought updates on the proposed pedestrian crossing near the school, planned bus shelters, and whether long-promised drainage improvements would proceed following recent road sealing works.
A strong representation from the Burren Junction community attended the meeting, including members of the Burren Junction Progress Committee such as President Angus Moore, Vice President Sharon Shearer, and Treasurer Janine Powell.
The long-discussed Burren Junction truck stop was also raised during the meeting. The Progress Association has spent the past three years lobbying for a designated truck stop to be developed opposite the Junction City Hotel and local cafรฉ. Progress has been made through discussions regarding the transfer of land from Transport NSW to Council ownership to allow the project to proceed.
Residents expressed frustration over plans for a proposed truck stop at Merrywinebone, arguing that Burren Junction is in far greater need due to trucks already parking on both sides of the highway so drivers can access food and services from the hotel and cafรฉ.
Community members said some or all of the proposed funding should instead be redirected toward developing a proper truck stop in Burren Junction.
Overall, residents said they appreciated the willingness of Walgett Shire staff to attend the meeting and listen to community concerns.
The community now hopes Council will carefully assess the issues raised and work with local The community now hopes Council will carefully assess the issues raised and work with local residents to deliver practical solutions to long-standing infrastructure and maintenance problems affecting Burren Junction