Four new bores, two pipelines, and pumps have been delivered together with a state-of-the-art water treatment plant, in $15 million of combined investment promising to better prepare the regional town of Bourke against future droughts.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional New South Wales, Paul Toole, said the new infrastructure will put Bourke in a stronger position to manage the next dry spell.
“The State Government has delivered more than $21 million worth of water and sewerage upgrades in Bourke since 2017 to boost the town’s drought resilience and provide a safer and more secure water supply,” Mr Toole said.
“We have a proven track record when it comes to building world-class water infrastructure that safeguards town water supply in remote areas like Bourke.”
State Minister for Lands and Water, Kevin Anderson, said the new facility will provide access to safe and reliable water for the people of Bourke.
“The new water treatment plant is a game changer, producing up to 3.3ML of water a day, providing the town’s 2,000 residents with safer, cleaner drinking water that meets Australian standards – a huge improvement on the old plant that was built in 1964, which was prone to failure and could not treat water to an acceptable level,” Mr Anderson said.
“Bourke has another reason to celebrate with the completion of four bores that are 160m deep and are connected to the water treatment plant via 30 km of new pipeline giving the town another water source to lean on during a drought.”
The bore will only be used as an emergency water supply. The final stage of the project, which involves connecting the new pumps to the power grid to eliminate the need for diesel generators, will be completed before the end of the year.
Bourke Shire Council Mayor, Barry Hollman, said the projects mark a new era in water security for the region.
“This is a once-in-a-generation project for Bourke, and having infrastructure that is fit for the 21st century has been life changing for our community,” Mr Hollman said.
“You cannot underestimate the importance of having access to clean, top quality drinking water or being able to rely on an alternative water source when the Darling River levels are low.
“This is another example of Bourke Shire Council working hand-in-hand with the New South Wales Government to get the job done so we are able to manage a more variable climate and get the best water security outcomes for our community.”
The State Government has previously worked with Council to deliver a reverse osmosis plant to treat bore water during the 2019 drought and is co-funding a new $2.1 million reservoir in Charles Street which will be finished at the beginning of December and will hold one megalitre of potable drinking water.
The projects are funded under the State Government’s $1.1 billion Safe and Secure Water Program which has delivered 27 completed projects with more than 200 others in various stages of delivery across regional areas.
