New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro

New South Wales Minister for Regional Water Niall Blair

Wyangala Dam Gets Snowy Hydro Boost

Victor P Taffa

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional New South Wales John Barilaro and the Minister for Regional Water Niall Blair today announced the raising of the Wyangala dam wall as the first major water investment from the $4.2 Billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund.

Under New South Wales Liberals & Nationals Government, work will start on this ambitious $650 Million project with environmental and economic studies to commence this year.

Deputy Premier Barilaro said the New South Wales Liberals & Nationals Government continues to invest in water security projects across regional New South Wales, at a critical time with the State enduring one of its worst droughts on record.

“Raising of the Wyangala dam wall will deliver much-needed improvements for towns in the Lachlan Valley like Cowra, Forbes, Hillston and Condobolin, by tackling the dual challenges of water security and flood management.” Deputy Premier Barilaro said.

“There is nothing more important for our regional communities and businesses than to have access to safe and reliable water, and this is precisely the sort of project the Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund was established to fund.”

“We will invest the proceeds from the Fund into dams like Wyangala and pipelines in priority catchments and projects that reduce evaporation and seepage on existing water infrastructure.” Deputy Premier Barilaro said.

Minister Blair said there’s no greater service the New South Wales Government can provide to regional communities than to secure water supplies into the future with 1 of the 5 investment priorities of the $4.2 Billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund.

“While raising the Wyangala dam wall is the first major water investment from the Fund, there is much more to come.” Minister Blair said.

“We already have teams on the ground assessing further priority investments into regional dams, pipelines and weirs.”

“This investment will be guided by fast-tracking 6 new regional water strategies that align with the needs of each region or catchment area, so we can continue investing in local solutions.” Minister Blair said.

Liberals & Nationals Government will also push the boundaries in our thinking for drought-proofing regional communities, by committing $25 Million aimed at future-proofing eastern Australia long-term, this would be contingent on matching funding from the Commonwealth and other states.

New South Wales Liberals & Nationals Government has already completed the $500 Million pipeline from Wentworth to Broken Hill, which will deliver water to Broken Hill in coming weeks, ensuring the town has a secure long-term source of drinking water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project’s construction was completed under budget and ahead of time. Other projects under Safe and Secure Water include:

• Bombala Sewerage Treatment Plant Upgrade,
• Bourke Bore Water,
• Hay Wastewater Treatment Plant,
• Lightning Ridge Water Supply Upgrade,
• Liverpool Plains District Water Security Project,
• Malpas to Guyra Pipeline,
• Manilla Water Supply Upgrade,
• Nyngan Water Supply Upgrade,
• Scone to Murrurundi Pipeline,
• Walgett Weir and Fishway,
• Wilcannia Weir.