The $8.24 million Nyngan Cobar Water Security Project is nearing completion and will deliver a new 650 megalitre storage dam to provide water security for the Nyngan community thanks to the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government.
Minister for Water Kevin Anderson visited the site today to see how work was progressing on the project that will help drought proof water supplies for Nyngan and Cobar.
"Water security is at the forefront of the NSW Nationals' agenda when it comes to delivering for regional communities," Mr Anderson said.
"It is great to see progress being made on the storage dam, which is located next to another $10 million storage reservoir, pump station and 1.8-kilometre pipeline that we built in 2019 during the height of the State's worst drought.
"The two storage dams will double the storage capacity for Nyngan and Cobar holding up to 1300 megalitres of water. To put this in perspective, Nyngan uses 600 megalitres of water every year which means the new reservoirs can hold an extra two years' worth of water supply which is great news for the region.
"We are also funding repair work on the first dam over the next few months, including installing a synthetic clay lining to prevent leaks."
Nyngan and Cobar's town water supply comes from a weir in the Bogan River which is topped up by water from the Macquarie River via the Albert Priest Channel when flows are low.
Mr Anderson said new storage dams will provide an important back-up water supply for the towns which are some of the driest locations in the State.
"While these areas have experienced record rainfalls and flooding over the past 12 months, it was only a few years ago that Nyngan and Cobar looked like a moonscape and they were on the verge of running out of water," Mr Anderson said.
"That is why the NSW Government has also invested $4 million to build a new bore to the north-east of Nyngan to provide another water supply to lean on, as well as providing $2 million to carry out emergency repairs to the 65km Albert Priest Channel pipeline to fix leaks and disruptions to the system."
Nyngan Mayor Glenn Neill said it was a great example of the Local Council working collaboratively with the NSW Government to boost drought resilience and improve long-term water supply and storage for the town.
"We have a proven track record of working hand-in-hand with the State Government to deliver infrastructure that is going to put Nyngan in a stronger position to manage a more variable climate," Mayor Neil said.
"Out here, water security is the number one issue and without investment and support from the NSW Government we wouldn't be able to build new reservoirs, pump stations, pipelines and bores.
"We have worked hard to get the new storage dam finished despite significant weather delays and once it is up and running it will be a great asset for the region."
