Armidale Regional Council voted at their Wednesday meeting not to develop a new water strategy for the Saumarez Historical Trust House, arguing the motion duplicated council's existing support.
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That decision may have been rather hasty.
The homestead desperately needs water, National Trust property manager Les Davis told the Armidale Express today.
"We've run out of water, and we need it to supplement the operations here," Mr Davis said. "We would welcome any support council can give us, particularly in the provision of water to help us save the heritage trees and the gardens."
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At Wednesday's council meeting, Crs Margaret O'Connor and Dorothy Robinson proposed that council continue to work with Saumarez's head gardener to develop strategies to maintain gardens during the drought, and ensure that its valuable plants did not die.
Some of the heritage trees planted in the 1880s are starting to look sick, particularly the Pinus radiata on the main drive, Mr Davis said today.
The gardener wanted to adapt council's rescue plan for the heritage trees in the Central Park to protect plants at the homestead, including the historic rose garden.
The motion, Cr O'Connor argued, represented an undertaking by council to support Saumarez, which was critical for local tourism and the visitor economy.
"We would be a laughing-stock ... if we saved our own historic trees and let those at Saumarez die for lack of water," Cr O'Connor said. "They are in difficulties; they are carting water; they do need help."
Council management advised they were happy to provide advice, but thought there was no need to replicate the Central Park watering regime at Saumarez. The Trust, which manages the property, had not sought anything further from council, they said.
Council CEO Susan Law said council's Parks and Gardens team already worked closely with the property to develop strategies.
"Even though council is doing the right thing now, it would be good for us councilors to express support," Cr Robinson argued. "This is an unprecedented drought, and things could get worse."
Crs Bradley Widders, Jonathan Galletly, and Diane Gray opposed the motion, arguing it was unnecessary.
"As a council, we are doing our utmost to support the maintenance of not just Saumarez, but all our gardens and Central Park," Cr Gray said. "This is duplicating what is already being done."
Saumarez does not have access to town water; council will help them access it in the long-term, Mr Davis said, but that may not happen until a water pipe from the airport to the homestead is completed - hopefully by this time next year.
"Once we have access to town water," Mr Davis said, "that will resolve the situation for us."
A former Armidale Dumaresq Council Memorandum of Understanding, Ms Law said, gave Saumarez access to a council water bore on the New England Highway, at Orchardfield.
Although council endeavoured to provide the property with water from this bore pump, Mr Davis said he did not know whether it was still working.
"I don't think there's any water available at that foot valve," he said. He awaited confirmation from council.
Cr Galletly suggested on Wednesday that council could put a bore on the Saumarez premises if one were needed.
In the meantime, Mr Davis said, the property has bought loads of water to keep the toilets running and the cafe operating. They will also install new rainwater tanks so the property will be more sustainable when it does rain.
Council also provided $730,000 in 2017 under the Sustainable Saumarez Homestead Tourism Project, a joint venture with the state government and the National Trust, to help the attraction develop its facilities. Under the agreement, they have committed to seal an internal road at the property.
The community, Mr Davis said, can support Saumarez by visiting the homestead. It offers guided tours for a fee, and charges a nominal fee for people to explore the gardens and grounds.
"By paying for their visitation," Mr Davis said, "that money certainly will help us buy the water that we need until it rains, and help us try to keep the grounds going."