Reproduced below is a letter from Tamworth Council in reply to my query as to where we could obtain potable water as the previous supply poins were disconnected during the festival last year.
At $1.00 per 20lts for water that represents a mark up of around 1,500% on domestic supply rates.
Talk about taking advantage!!
Welcome to Tamworth, just be sure to bring your money.
Dear Bob
If I can introduce myself, I am the Tamworth Country Music Festival Director. Bruce Logan who has already corresponded with you is the Water Enterprises Director. I am pleased to hear that you have been coming to the Festival for a number of years with other friends and that you have during that time enjoyed all the Festival has to offer visitors.
The water taps you were drawing water from last Festival have been removed for reason that during the 2007 Country Music Festival, Tamworth and this region was in the grip of severe drought and our main water supply dam, Chaffey Dam, was down to around 25% at the time of the 2007 Festival. The taps along with other water supply connections on Council parks, gardens and reserves were disconnected to conserve water. It is not intended to reconnect water to these connections or allow and public use of the water supply.
The practice that you have adopted over past years of drawing water from public parks for human consumption and other domestic uses is not strictly legal and will not be available this year and in the future. However, I can arrange for you and your friends to collect potable water from Council's Works Depot located off Barnes Street, Taminda (the Tamworth Industrial Area). The Depot is located in Lockheed Street and the easiest route is via Bridge Street heading west, turning right into Ebsworth Street at the traffic lights at the end of the Goonoo Goonoo Creek Bridge, then left into Barnes Street, proceed along Barnes Street, then right into Lockheed Street.
The Depot will be open for business during week days, excluding public holidays, of the Festival between the hours of 7.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
There will be a charge of $1.00 per every 20 litres of water supplied. If you bring your water containers to the Taminda Depot and ask for Bruce or Wally, you will be able to fill you containers from a fire hydrant located near the Depot main office.
I hope you enjoy the 2009 Festival which is shaping up to be one of the best. If you need any further assistance, give me a call.
