replacement of our water pipeline. ▪ Photo contributed
The Cobar Water Board and Cobar Shire Council are working with State Member for Barwon Roy Butler to find some possible ways forward to replace the Nyngan to Cobar water pipeline.
Mr Butler was in town last Thursday and met with Cobar Water Board members and Council staff.
“It was disappointing to hear that the government has decided to pause the project to replace the Nyngan to Cobar water pipeline,” Mr Butler said.
“The existing pipeline is ageing and at risk of failure, which would leave the people of Cobar without a reliable source of water.
“A business case that has been prepared puts the cost at around $300 million, but this document has not been made public,” Mr Butler said.
“Cobar’s Mayor Jarrod Marsden said that he believes $300 million is a huge overestimate and includes unnecessary items.”
Cr Marsden briefed councillors at last week’s Ordinary Council Meeting on a discussion he had with an executive officer from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) about the project.
“It was clear from that conversation that the scope of work that makes up the $300 million does not only include simply the pipeline,” Cr Marsden told the meeting.
“There was conversation around how the scope includes the third pump station at the water storages [in Cobar].
“That wasn’t included in the original pump station grant we’ve already received and it also includes a lot of work on the raw water piping system through town because he mentioned about digging up half the golf course,” Cr Marsden said.
“He mentioned the establishment of a camp for the workforce to do the job.
“I have no idea what that entails,” he said.
Cr Marsden said the design and costings for the project haven’t been released yet.
“They’re ‘commercial in confidence’ in Cabinet.”
Mr Butler has requested a copy of the business case be made available to Cobar Shire Council and Cobar Water Board, ahead of a meeting with the Water Minister, Rose Jackson…see this week’s edition for the remainder of this article.
