Bega and Tathra will soon benefit from a safer and more secure water supply, with the tender for the new $20.8 million water treatment plant awarded to Laurie Curran Water Pty Ltd.
Minister for Lands and Water Kevin Anderson said the project, jointly funded with $15.2 million from the NSW Government's Safe and Secure Program and $5.6 million from Bega Valley Shire Council, will deliver high-quality, filtered water to improve water security across the South Coast.
"Getting a builder on-board who will spearhead the design and construction of the water treatment plant is an important milestone, enabling the project to be shovel ready by March next year, which is great news for the region," Mr Anderson said.
"Building a plant that is fit for the 21st century will deliver up to 9.5 megalitres of top quality drinking water each day, catering for high demand particularly over the summer months and school holidays when tourism is booming."
The project includes four new bores that are deeper and better designed to handle flooding. In addition, Council is funding the installation of 300 kilowatt solar panels to power the plant and pumps and reduce the region's carbon footprint.
Council's Water and Sewerage Services Manager, Chris Best said improving water quality and security for all residents is a priority.
"This is the next step of a plan to deliver treated and filtered water to all of our town water networks," Mr Best said.
"Working closely with the NSW Government, we are now able to build a plant in Bega that will improve the water quality and adapt to increased demand and population growth over the next 25 years.
"Further collaboration with the NSW Government will deliver the Brogo-Bermagui water treatment plant next year and a Yellow Pinch facility in 2027. Add to this our Council-funded Bemboka plant and you get shire-wide improvements for town water customers."
The Bega Water Treatment Plant provides water to approximately 8000 customers in Bega, North Bega, Tarraganda, Kalaru, Tathra, Tathra River Estate and Mogareeka.
Design work will begin shortly with construction expected to start in early 2023 and be finished by September 2024.
This project is part of the more than one billion dollar Safe and Secure Water Program which has delivered 26 completed projects across regional NSW with funding for more than 200 other projects currently in various stages of delivery.
Bega and Tathra will soon benefit from a safer and more secure water supply, with the tender for the new $20.8 million water treatment plant awarded to Laurie Curran Water Pty Ltd.
