Work commenced on Monday on a $17.1 million project to replace twin pipelines carrying water from Nyngan to Cobar, which will improve the reliability and efficiency of the water supply to the local community.
Member for Barwon, Kevin Humphries, said he was pleased to see the project get underway.
“The two-stage project received a total of $10 million in funding through the NSW Government’s Restart NSW Resources for Regions program which aims to support regional and rural NSW communities affected by mining by addressing infrastructure constraints,” Mr Humphries said.
The new pipeline, which is being delivered by the Cobar Water Board, will facilitate the movement of non-treated water from the Albert Priest Channel to the Nyngan storage pond, and provide better and more reliable access to water for the surrounding local communities and mining industry.
Mr Humphries said that the NSW Government is determined to make sure regional NSW has the quality infrastructure it needs to support communities and provide them with reliable access to essential resources.
“The 130km pipeline between Nyngan and Cobar is an essential part of the raw water supply to Cobar,” Mr Humphries said.
“The replacement of an ageing piece of infrastructure has come at high time and it is exciting to see positive steps being taken toward ensuring access to a reliable water supply for these communities.”
President of the Cobar Water Board, Doug McKay, said this was an exciting step in a much anticipated project.
“This investment will help the water board ensure the consistent and continued supply of raw water to Cobar into the future,’ Mr McKay said.
Mayor of Cobar, Lilliane Brady, said the project was critical to improving Cobar’s water security.
“A lot of work has gone into the planning of the project to date and it is great to see the construction works starting.
“I am looking forward to the pipeline being commissioned at the end of 2017,” Mayor Brady said.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional Development, John Barilaro, highlighted the importance of the NSW Government’s work to deliver the right infrastructure to ensure regional communities can grow and prosper into the future.
“This funding has gone a long way to address the constraints areas like Cobar are facing,” Mr Barilaro said.
“It is another example of how the NSW Government, through Restart NSW, is providing the funds needed to deliver essential water infrastructure in regional communities.”
A total of $198 million in funding has been provided for 28 projects under the Restart NSW Resources for Regions program, to June 2016.
Projects include infrastructure improvements across the health, water, road, education and tourism sectors, as well as investment in CBD renewals to increase the attractiveness of regional NSW as a place to live and do business.
