Locals and holidaymakers in Wentworth, Buronga, Gol Gol, and Dareton are one step closer to locking in safer and more secure water thanks to $472,000 in co-funding from the NSW Government and Wentworth Shire Council.
The investment will enable Council to identify the best options for upgrading critical infrastructure that delivers both drinking and non-drinking water to the four towns.
It’s a significant step toward boosting water quality, reliability, and drought resilience for the region’s 4,100 people and supporting the growth of outback tourism in the area where the Darling and Murray Rivers meet.
“This is about safeguarding water for Wentworth, Buronga, Gol Gol, Dareton and Namatjira, and it’s vital we get the ball rolling on long-overdue infrastructure upgrades,” New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Executive Director of Development Lisa Hingerty said.
“We want to support the region in the future as more visitors spend their holidays in Wentworth Shire. I’m delighted to see this work get going.”
The new funding includes:
- $161,250 from the NSW Government and $53,750 from Council to deliver an options study and concept design for upgrading Wentworth’s water treatment plant and raw water pump station
- $192,750 from the NSW Government and $64,250 from Council to deliver an options study and concept design for upgrading Gol Gol’s water treatment plant and the raw water pump station supplying Dareton and Namatjira
“We are pleased to partner with the NSW Government to secure the future water supplies,” Wentworth Shire Mayor Daniel Linklater said.
“The upgrade of pump stations and water treatment plants is essential to ensure the continued delivery of safe and reliable water to our residents and visitors.
Currently, Wentworth relies on a single pump station to deliver drinking and non-drinking water to its 1,100 residents and a growing number of visitors.
However, the ageing infrastructure, which was operating at its peak during the early 1990s, now needs a significant upgrade to meet modern water treatment standards and demands, particularly during dry conditions.
Meanwhile, in nearby Gol Gol, the water treatment plant serves about 3,000 people in the town, neighbouring Buronga, Dareton, and the Indigenous community of Namatjira.
However, parts of the plant need replacement or repair, and the infrastructure has reached its capacity, so it will be unable to meet the towns’ water needs as they grow.
The raw water pump station delivering non-drinking water also requires an urgent upgrade.
“This much-needed infrastructure upgrade addresses our aging assets and represents a significant achievement in collaboration with the NSW Government, securing a sustainable future for our community,” Mr Linklater said.
“This funding is crucial for initiating preliminary assessments, enabling us to develop and implement effective long-term solutions.”
The new funding will allow Council to launch detailed investigations across four schemes to find solutions and develop early planning works, including environmental reviews, geotechnical investigations, site surveys, and concept designs.
Options will aim to enhance water treatment processes’ reliability, efficiency, and automation, reduce operating costs, and extend the life of significant equipment.
The development work is due to be completed by June 2025.
This latest investment is from the NSW Government’s Safe and Secure Water Program, which supports more than $1 billion worth of projects across the state. Over 260 projects are in various stages of delivery.
