Construction is underway on the $2.2 million Coonabarabran groundwater pipeline thanks to funding from the NSW Nationals in the state government.
Nationals Upper House MP Sam Farraway said the new pipeline, funded under the NSW Nationals in the state government’s Safe and Secure Program, will provide a reliable alternative water source increasing the community’s drought resilience.
“When Coonabarabran faced a critical water shortage in the recent drought, and Timor Dam fell to just 18 per cent capacity, the NSW Government stepped up, investing $1.7million to develop three new bores, safeguarding the town’s water supply,” Mr Farraway said.
Nationals Minister for Water Melinda Pavey said the government is taking the project to the next level by constructing an 8.25-kilometre pipeline which will link the bores directly to the town’s water treatment plant.
“The pipeline will give the community control over where it’s drawing water from ensuring the town has access to clean and safe drinking water in the event of a break or outage of the main line to Timor Dam,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Having an alternative water source will also protect Coonabarabran’s water supply if the dam’s water quality becomes compromised due to flood or algae events.”
Warrumbungle Shire Mayor Ambrose Doolan said the Coonabarabran groundwater pipeline is a critical infrastructure project which will ensure future water security.
“The pipeline will provide a dedicated groundwater supply, increasing Coonabarabran’s water sustainability and enabling a flexible supply from surface water and groundwater sources,” Mr Doolan said.
Since it was established in 2017, the Safe and Secure Water Program has committed more than $745 million to 177 water infrastructure projects.
