BELUBULA River irrigators could be in for more secure, and possibly more, water if a plan to link Lake Rowlands and Carcoar Dam comes off.
Regional Water Minister Niall Blair in late October said the state government will commit $850,000 for the preparation of a final business case for a pipeline between Lake Rowlands and Carcoar Dam.
Lake Rowlands is a dam on the Coombing Rivulet, a tributary of the Belubula River, owned and operated by Central Tablelands Water and built between 1949 and 1954.
The scheme supplies water to the centres of Grenfell, Eugowra, Manildra, Canowindra, Carcoar, Blayney and Millthorpe.
There has been significant historical argument for expanding the dam’s holding capacity from 4500 megalitres to 26,500ml.
CTW chairman David Somervaille explained the pipeline thus: “The concept is a simple one. Surplus water is transferred from Lake Rowlands and stored in Carcoar Dam, only about 10 kilometres away.
“It is then available to supplement drinking water supplies for the towns and villages connected to the CTW network, provide additional water for irrigators along the Belubula Valley and improve the regularity of flows of environmental water.”
Central Tablelands Water and WaterNSW have discussed the proposal for the last few years.
It was included in the Lachlan Valley Water Security Study and is one of the projects identified in WaterNSW’s 20-year infrastructure plan.
“Not only does the project offer improved water security outcomes on all fronts, but it is a great example of state and local governments working together,” said Mr Somervaille.
“And it is good to see urban water being included as an integral part of regional water planning.”
