More than 16.5km of a new permanent pipeline eliminating water losses between Chaffey Dam to Tamworth is now in the ground with the $39 million project providing a solid stimulus to local businesses and workers.
NSW Nationals Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said the project, which is 80 percent complete, has injected more than $1.3 million into the community, engaged 30 local businesses and recruited a workforce comprising one-third of local people including tradesmen, truck drivers, fencers and heavy machine operators.
“This is great news for Tamworth and the surrounding region. We have investment in local projects, creating local jobs and giving us a pipeline that will save every precious drop of water that we can,” Mr Anderson said.
“The 18.2km pipeline will carry water from Chaffey Dam to the Dungowan pipeline for direct delivery to the Calala Water Treatment Plant.
“This will eliminate water loss to evaporation and seepage that occurs when delivering water via the Peel River.”
NSW Nationals Water Minister Melinda Pavey said the pipeline would also conserve the remaining storage in Chaffey Dam – currently at 14.3 percent capacity – prolonging long-term water supply for critical human needs for Tamworth.
“The project carries on from a temporary pipeline and weir that were constructed in November 2019. The pipeline is expected to be operational by the end of April 2020,” Mrs Pavey said.
The temporary weir, pipeline and pumps have been operational since December 2019 supplying water to the existing Dungowan to Tamworth pipeline.
For information on WaterNSW drought measures click on: https://www.waternsw.com.au/supply/drought-information.
