Coonabarabran residents hoping to gain recreational access to Timor Dam will have to wait longer.

Warrumbungle Shire Councillor Ray Lewis’s recision motion put forward at Warrumbungle Shire Council’s monthly meeting on Thursday, 18 March, was voted down 6-3.

Had the motion been successful, the argument to make Timor Dam accessible could have continued, but as a result will now be shelved for at least three months.

Cr Lewis had the backing from fellow councillors Kodi Brady and Anne- Louise Capel, but it wasn’t enough to continue the contentious debate.

Mayor Ambrose Doolan, who has stood by his decision to vote against the motion, took the opportunity to pitch the idea of instead rejuvenating the Castlereagh River.

Cr Doolan said a community group was already taking steps to see his vision implemented, having applied for small grants of $50,000 to start the ball rolling.

Further larger-scale grants will become available later in the year, which Cr Doolan said Council may look at applying for.

In continuing his argument for the river to be returned to its former glory, he said the local Rural Fire Service have identified grant funding to de-silt the river at the bottom weir, which could include dredging to make it accessible to fire-fighting helicopters to take water from during bushfire season.

While Cr Lewis was disappointed with Council’s decision about Timor Dam, he said he would resume where he left off in three months time.

In the mean time, he said the mayor had his full support when it came to beautifying the river.

“It’s a democratic society. All I can do is listen to what the people want and put it to Council,” Cr Lewis said.

“That’s the way democracy works - it’s no good sooking about it.

“But yes, I do plan on revisiting it in three months time.

“With the river, I will definitely support it - I won’t be against it. I would apply the same methodology to it as I was planning for the dam-tomakeitaccessible to non-powered vessels.

“It is a very feasible idea.”