The big ticket item in the Coalition's water policy is the raising of Wyangala Dam in a $650m election commitment announced today.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro and the Minister for Regional Water Niall Blair said environmental and economic studies to commence this year.
“The raising of the Wyangala dam wall will deliver much-needed improvements for towns in the Lachlan Valley like Cowra, Forbes, Hillston and Condobolin, by tackling the dual challenges of water security and flood management,” Mr Barilaro said.
“There is nothing more important for our regional communities and businesses than to have access to safe and reliable water, and this is precisely the sort of project the Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund was established to fund.
“We will invest the proceeds from the Fund into dams like Wyangala and pipelines in priority catchments and projects that reduce evaporation and seepage on existing water infrastructure.”
Mr Blair said “while raising the Wyangala dam wall is the first major water investment from the Fund, there is much more to come,” Mr Blair said.
“We already have teams on the ground assessing further priority investments into regional dams, pipelines and weirs.
“This investment will be guided by fast-tracking six new regional water strategies that align with the needs of each region or catchment area, so we can continue investing in local solutions.”
The original plan was to raise Wyangala by 10m.
Other projects under Safe and Secure Water include :
· Wilcannia Weir
· Malpas to Guyra Pipeline
· Bombala Sewerage Treatment Plant Upgrade
· Scone to Murrurundi Pipeline
· Nyngan Water Supply Upgrade
· Liverpool Plains District Water Security Project
· Hay Wastewater Treatment Plant
· Bourke Bore Water
· Walgett Weir and Fishway
· Lightning Ridge Water Supply Upgrade
· Manilla Water Supply Upgrade
John Ellicott
journalist and author
journalist and author
