Cobar residents keeping an eye on the recent State Budget may have been confused in thinking an allocation of $36.3 million to upgrade our water pipeline was new government funding.
Cobar Shire Council’s general manager Peter Vlatko said the Budget allocation of $36.3 million to upgrade the Nyngan to Cobar Pipeline and Pumping Stations announced as part of the Minns State Government Budget on June 18 is “previously allocated money”.
“It’s my understanding that it’s not “new” money.
“It’s part of the Federal Government and State Government’s previous commitment to the project,” Mr Vlatko told The Cobar Weekly
He said $23 million had already been allocated to the pipeline upgrade project by the Federal Government which was to be matched dollar-for-dollar by the State Government.
“They’ve already spent $10 million of that,” Mr Vlatko said.
He also clarified that funding was only for the two pump stations, not the pipeline itself.
“Council is concerned the extra costs of the pump stations and pipeline may be borne by the Cobar community and the mines…Full report is in this week’s edition out now!
