General News
22 February, 2024
Water Pipe Upgrade Concerns
An upgrade to the water pipeline between Nyngan and Cobar has been designed to improve water reliability for Cobar, but could bring increased environmental and aesthetic challenges for the Nyngan weir system.
Bogan Shire Council’s mayor Glen Neill expressed his concerns in a ‘Mayoral Minute’ at last week’s
December council meeting.
Bogan shire councillors and the general manager recently met with the NSW government department of
planning and environment (DPE) to discuss the Nyngan to Cobar Pipeline Project.
The project involves an upgrade of the existing pipeline and pumping infrastructure between Nyngan
and Cobar, to provide long-term water supply reliability.
“According to the DPE the upgrade is needed because the existing pipeline and pumping stations are
nearing the end of their design life, with the emergency backup system also at risk of failure,” Mr Neill said.
Mr Neill said the state and federal governments had agreed to fund stage one of the project which will involve an upgrade to the pump stations at Nyngan, Hermidale, and Cobar. Stage two will involve replacing the existing pipeline. “The technical, environmental and cultural heritage investigations needed to progress the final business case for the proposed pipeline replacement are complete,” he said.
“DPE reported that when the business case for the pipeline replacement is finalised, the NSW government will make an investment decision on funding stage two.”
Mr Neill said Bogan Shire Council has raised concerns about the project.
These included the potential environmental and amenity impact of the new river pump station at
Nyngan; and the challenge of managing water flows into the weir pools at Nyngan given the new system will have the capacity to pump 50 per cent more water towards Cobar.
Mayor Neill said council was also concerned about the land tenure arrangements for the pump station on Temples Lane.
“These matters will all need to be adequately addressed before council is satisfied with DPE’s proposals,”
he said.