PUBLIC comment is being sought on Tweed Shire Council's plans to widen and strengthen the spillway of the Clarrie Hall Dam south-west of Murwillumbah.

The plans are being put on exhibition for four weeks from tomorrow while the council continues to slowly push ahead with its separate plan to eventually build a new dam further west at Byrrill Creek.

A council document explaining the spillway upgrade says the work would “ensure that the dam can continue to safely pass extreme flood events and meet the new standards established by the NSW Dams Safety Committee”.

It emphasises that the project is not related to the plans for a new dam which “would not be required until 2023 at the earliest”.

“The spillway upgrade is needed to meet the Dams Safety Committee's requirements and these works are to be completed no later than 2018,” says the document produced by a special “project management team”.

They estimate the work would take about six months and would begin in early 2013 once all approv- als are issued.

They have warned all householders could face water restrictions during construction.

“Depending on construction techniques, the water level of the dam may need to be reduced to allow work on the spillway,” they said. “If this were to occur, water restrictions would need to be implemented across the shire.”