The Orange and Region Water Security Alliance, Orange Ratepayers’ Association and the Inland Waterways Rejuvenation Association responded to comments made by Goulburn councillor Geoff Peterson, who spoke out in support of Orange’s proposal last week.

Cr Peterson has since told pipeline opponents that he did not understand the project.

Inland Waterways Rejuvenation Association president Matt Hansen said a pipeline which drew water from a reservoir and one which proposed to draw water from a river should not be compared.

He said the lesson from Goulburn should be to investigate a pipeline to a reservoir such as Burrendong Dam.

“I think Goulburn’s was environmentally sustainable. Orange could tap into something like that,” he said.

Orange City Council has previously stated that a pipeline to Burrendong was infeasible and could double the $47 million cost of the project.

Pipeline opponents say Orange’s pipeline, while designed to remove only half a per cent of the river’s annual flow, could take out up to 40 per cent of its daily flow during dry times.

Cyril Smith from the Orange and Region Water Security Alliance said he would welcome a visit from representatives of Goulburn council to explain their project and how it differed from Orange’s proposal, and also suggested that a pipeline from Burrendong Dam should be considered.