The first stage of the $2.5 million Yass Water Treatment Plant upgrade is now complete, with works including the installation of a bubble plume aeration at Yass Dam, upgrading the raw water pump station and improving chemical dosing.
New South Wales Minister for Lands and Water, Kevin Anderson, said the upgraded infrastructure will enhance the quality and reliability of the water for the local community, particularly during extreme wet and dry weather which is great news for residents.
“Water is our most precious asset and a basic human right, so we are continuing to invest in water infrastructure projects that will provide certainty for the people in our regions,” Mr Anderson said.
“While Yass’s water has always been safe to drink, we listened to residents who reported water problems that needed urgent attention.
“This included iron and manganese that can impact the colour, taste and smell of the water, which is why funding this stage of the project was a priority for the New South Wales Government.”
Stage one of the project was delivered thanks to the New South Wales Government’s Housing Acceleration Fund. It was part of the New South Wales Government’s commitment to support the economic growth of Yass, including up to 1,580 new homes.
“Residents should have confidence that when they turn the tap on, the product they’re getting is clean and ready to use for drinking, cooking and washing,” Mr Anderson said.
“Staging work on the Yass Water Treatment Plant provides an opportunity for us to evaluate the effectiveness of this initial upgrade – maximising the benefits and minimising the costs to the community.”
Member for Goulburn, Wendy Tuckerman, welcomed the investment.
“Every community deserves access to good quality drinking water. This was a particular concern for Yass during the drought so the completion of this project is an important moment for Yass,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
Yass Valley Mayor, Allan McGrath, thanked the community for its patience and said completing the upgrade is a major win for locals.
“Council has been working hard to get the job done and we will be keeping a close eye on the treatment process to ensure we get it right,” Mr McGrath said.
This project is one of more than $14.7 million worth investments the New South Wales Government has made in the Goulburn electorate since 2011, including water quality and supply upgrades at Murrumbatemen, Yass and Goulburn, and sewerage improvements at Gunning, Dalton, Taralga and Murrumbateman.
The New South Wales Government is also investing $640,000 to help fund a Final Business Case for the next stages of the Yass Murrumbateman Water Treatment Quality Improvement Project, which will investigate options for a new water treatment plant and/or the refurbishment of the existing plant.
“I have been working with Yass Council to secure funding for stage two, and it is fantastic to have the Minister here today to inspect the site and see firsthand how important this is for the community.” Mrs Tuckerman said.
Work is expected to start on the business case shortly. It will be submitted to the New South Wales Government for its review once it is completed to enable it to make a final investment decision on how to deliver improved water infrastructure in the Yass Valley.
