THE decision to spend $800,000 on a further study into the Emu Swamp Dam project will be discussed at a public meeting in Stanthorpe tonight.

Just as confidential documents were released to the Daily News last week, Southern Downs Regional Council was quick to organise a public meeting to discuss the decision.

Mayor Ron Bellingham said the Stanthorpe water situation had been on the drawing board for at least 20 years and he urged locals to attend tonight's meeting at the Civic Centre's supper room.

"It is important at this point in time that we update residents on the options available, why Emu Swamp was preferred over the alternatives and inform them of the challenges still to be faced in achieving that project," Cr Bellingham said.

The dam proposal is the only water solution to offer results for both the urban supply and irrigators. However, reports released to the Daily News say the project would never get the government tick of approval.

Cost estimates have put the Emu Swamp option at more than $77 million.

In June councillors voted in favour of continuing with a supplementary Environmental Impact Statement at the cost of $800,000.

Cr Bellingham, Peter Blundell and Neil Meiklejohn voted against the proposal.

The others, excluding Cr Cameron Gow who has remained outside discussion and voting on the issue due to a potential conflict of interest, voted in favour of the study.

Since amalgamation Cr Gow has always left the room if the Emu Swamp Dam's agricultural aspect was discussed as his father, among a group of growers, has invested money toward investigations.

Landholders in the Emu Swamp Dam area have been sent letters inviting them to the meeting.

It is understood this is the first contact they have had with council for about three years.

With the new Resource Operations Plan due to be drawn in 2014, the fear is the Border Rivers region could lose the 4500 ML of unallocated water that State Government has suggested as a potential gift to the Commonwealth for the Murray Darling Basin plan.

Growers remain divided in their opinions on how to best use the 3000 ML State Government irrigation component, with options including the Emu Swamp project or by securing greater on-farm storages.

The meeting starts at 7pm tonight in the supper room at Stanthorpe Civic Centre.