FOLLOWING investigations by the Daily News, the Southern Downs Regional Council has organised a community meeting to discuss council plans for the future of Stanthorpe's urban water supply.

Earlier this month - through a Right to Information application - the Daily News requested confidential reports on the future plans for water and the Emu Swamp Dam project.

Reports were provided yesterday and the council quickly issued a media statement, inviting people to a public information session.

"We want to inform the residents of the Southern Downs and particularly the Stanthorpe community what the council has done since amalgamation to secure an improved urban water supply for Stanthorpe township ... as well as the path selected that would also provide much needed irrigation water for the future sustainability of the agricultural community," Mayor Ron Bellingham said.

This was despite all previous discussions on the Stanthorpe water situation being discussed behind closed doors with the council staying tight lipped on its position.

In June, the council moved a motion to proceed with a supplementary environmental impact statement for the combined urban and irrigator Emu Swamp Dam project.

It had an estimated timeline of 18 months for undertaking field work and completing the report.

Crs Bellingham, Peter Blundell and Neil Meiklejohn voted against the recommendation.

 The community meeting will be held in Stanthorpe at the Civic Centre supper room on Tuesday, October 11, at 7pm.

The night is intended to be both a sharing of information from the council and the opportunity for residents to make comment or ask questions of councillors.