NSW council progressing major pipeline plans

Wagga Wagga City Council is progressing with plans for the Lake Albert pipeline, with the New South Wales Government issuing a license to Council to authorise the transfer of water from the Murrumbidgee River to Lake Albert.

The way forward was finalised in March 2021 when Council and the New South Wales Government entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which identified the solution and how it is going to be delivered.

Under the MOU, Council will have authority to draw up to 1.8 gigalitres of water from the river to the lake provided it meets the conditions of the licence which includes when the water is transferred and how much is transferred on any single day.

Water cannot be transferred between the months of October and March, and the amount transferred on any day must not exceed the amount of water discharged by Council to the river on that same day.

The key outcome is that the lake will be “topped up” each winter which means even in the hottest and driest summers, the lake level will still be relatively high. Whatever losses are experienced through evaporation over summer will be replaced the following winter under the arrangement.

The former Minister for Water, Melinda Pavey, confirmed in October 2021 that the New South Wales Government was actioning its commitments and Ms Pavey had directed that the legislation be put in place to create the agreed licence.

Wagga Wagga Council General Manager, Peter Thompson, said a recent reshuffle of the New South Wales Government Cabinet has not affected Council’s plans to build the pipeline.

“I have reached out to the new Minister for Water, Kevin Anderson, and I’m pleased to say it’s business as usual in regards to our plans for Lake Albert and the pipeline,” Mr Thompson said.

“Council thanks the former minister Melinda Pavey for the work she did in getting us to the point where Council had confidence to move forward under the MOU.

“Minister Anderson is supportive of the agreement we have in place.”

Council is working with the Riverina Water County Council to complete the design of the pipeline and where it will draw water from the river.

The only piece of the puzzle that remains to be solved is a source of funding to build the pipeline. Sourcing this funding is the focus of funding applications to the State and Federal Governments.

Mr Thompson said that he expects the pipeline to be completed and functioning in 2022.

“We originally aimed for April this year but that was dependent upon funding,” Mr Thompson said.

“We don’t yet have funding but will continue to pursue our options and our most current submission will be through the latest round of the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund which closes in coming weeks.”

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