Nabiac water supply system is operational
Published on 28 February 2019
MidCoast Council has officially opened its Nabiac Aquifer Water Supply System, a $34.6 million project designed to improve water security for the Manning and Great Lakes.
The Nabiac system will deliver between 6 million – 10 million litres of drinking water per day. The scheme is designed to provide a supplementary supply to the Manning scheme servicing approximately 70,000 people and up to 100,000 during peak holiday periods.
“We will now have improved water security in times of drought, and less reliance on the Manning River – with two water supply sources for our region,” said MidCoast Council Mayor, David West.
“This project is an important part of our long term strategy – ‘Our Water Our Future’. We have more work to do in the next 10 years to invest in water security projects throughout the MidCoast area.
“Water security doesn’t just deliver benefits for the community of today, it also makes our region more attractive for economic development and tourism.”
MidCoast Council’s General Manager, Adrian Panuccio said the new system will mean lower operating costs and a reduced need to pump water from Bootawa Dam to Forster.
Mr Panuccio says the project began in 1999, with environmental studies and water modelling establishing the viability of the inland dune aquifer located 6km south east of Nabiac. Environmental approval was achieved in 2005 after exhaustive studies.
“In 2007, the construction phase of this project began, including borefield infrastructure, the Nabiac Water treatment plant and the Darawank reservoir and pump station, along with over 16 kilometres of pipelines, electrical and telecommunication services,” Mr Panuccio added.
The Nabiac Water Treatment Plant is capable of delivering up to 12 million litres per day, and has an option to upgrade to 24 million litres per day to meet future needs.
“Environmental protection is a high priority within the Scheme,” said Mr Panuccio. “Together with the NSW Department of Industry -
Water, we’ve developed an Environmental Management Plan which includes a complex monitoring and control system, including a large number of monitoring bores and cease-to-pump restrictions.”
The borefields are part of a larger piece of land with significant cultural importance for Aboriginal people, and a historic land partnership deal ensures perpetual right of cultural access to members of the Forster Aboriginal Land Council.
MidCoast Council has invested $22.7 million in this project, together with an Australian Government grant of $9.43 million under the National Stronger Regions Fund and a NSW Government grant of $2.47 million.
For more detail on the Nabiac Water Supply scheme project, please visit our web page: Water Supplies.