Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) will soon commence the next stage of construction works to secure Wellington’s underground water supply in times of severe drought. In June 2019 the NSW Government announced a $30 million investment to expand the local underground water supply within the region. The Wellington Groundwater Pipeline Project is a key component of DRC’s Water for the Future Strategy designed to drought-proof the region.
Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Mathew Dickerson said the collaboration between Council and the NSW Government means that the entire region will have increased protection in the event another devastating drought takes hold. “We have all experienced the effects of the worst drought on record, whether it be managing water restrictions, the loss of crops, business, access to supplies etc. The partnership between Council and the state government means our region has better protection now than it ever had before,” said Mr Dickerson.
The Wellington Groundwater Pipeline Project will involve the installation of a 5.5km pipe that will connect a new production bore at Lay Street and Bicentennial Park to the Wellington Water Treatment Plant on the Falls Road. The pipeline will travel down Lay Street, Nicholi Street, Herbert Street, Montefiores Street, crossing underneath the Mitchell Highway, and then proceed down Macquarie Street, continuing through farm land before being tunnelled under the Macquarie River to arrive at the water treatment plant. (Please see map below)
Dubbo Regional Council’s Director of Infrastructure, Steven Colliver said it’s important to undertake capital projects such as these that provide the community with infrastructure to drought-proof the whole region in the likely event of another crippling drought. “Although there has been a considerable flooding issue in NSW recently, we know all too well the effects of the worst drought in history and what it did to our whole region,” said Mr Colliver. “During the last drought the Wellington community didn’t have access to ground water. The potable water supply relied solely on the river coming from Burrendong Dam. We know Wellington has a healthy supply of underground water and the ability to access this water, and treating it in times of severe drought, is an extremely important aspect of our Drought Security Strategy.”
“The new bore pipeline project will enable Wellington’s water treatment plant to either ‘blend’ bore water with river water, or to operate entirely with bore water when we are in extreme drought,” said Mr Colliver.
Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders welcomed the milestone in this crucial project. “It would be easy to focus on other things when the rain is falling, but it’s vital that we invest in the future of our regions,” Mr Saunders said.
“This new bore and pipeline will transform Wellington’s ability to contend with future droughts, which is why I was so proud to be able to secure the funding for this vital project.”
After a thorough and rigorous tender process, the construction of the pipeline has been awarded to Eire Constructions and the equipping of the two bores (electrical switchboards, pumps) has been awarded to TWS Evolutions. Works to equip the bores have commenced and pipeline construction will commence early April 2022. It is expected the work will take approximately 20 weeks to complete, weather permitting.
Courtesy notices to residents in the area are being prepared. Traffic management will be in place during the construction period.
