FEDERAL Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek and New South Wales Minister for Water Rose Jackson have announced plans to try and improve water reliability in the Cobar area with two new high-tech pump stations at Nyngan and Hermidale.
The $45.5 million infrastructure project has been awarded to construction company Diona, with works to begin in early 2025.
The existing pumps at the sites are at risk of failing due to age.
The new pumps will seek to improve efficiency and transfer of water from the Nyngan weir pool to Cobar along an existing 138 kilometre pipeline.
Ms Plibersek said all Australians should have access to safe drinking water.
“In a country like Australia, there are things that most of us take for granted,” she said. “We expect when we turn the tap on at home, safe drinking water will come out.
“But for more than 600,000 people in regional and remote Australia that isn’t the case.
“We have to do better and it’s why the Albanese Labor Government is investing billions of dollars in projects like this across the country to ensure communities have access to safe and reliable water.”
Ms Jackson said 4000 residents in Cobar will see improved water reliability as a result of the project.
“This is one of the biggest investments in new water infrastructure in this corner of regional NSW and will ensure water is being pumped faster and more effectively along the pipeline from Nyngan to Cobar,” she said.
Mayor of Cobar, Jarrod Marsden said that the project had been many years in the making.
“We have been advocating strongly for new pump stations because the current ones are past their use-by date, so I am pleased to see the project is picking up momentum with contractors now in place,” he said.
“Cobar knows better than most that access to reliable water is essential, particularly when you live in a town 138 kilometres from the nearest water source which is why this new infrastructure will be a game changer.”
