Gilgandra Wastewater Plant Project Gains Momentum

The NSW Government has invested $17.8 million in a new sewage treatment plant for Gilgandra that will future-proof wastewater services for the town. 

Gilgandra Shire Council has contributed $2.2 million toward the $20 million project which will transform the towns existing 60-year-old structure into a new state-of-the-art plant. 

This new plant will use a high-tech activated sludge treatment system known as Intermittent Decanted Extended Aeration (IDEA), capable of treating sewage to a much higher standard to improve effluent quality for better community and environmental outcomes. 

The project also includes upgrades to two pump stations and pipelines, making the plant more user friendly, reliable and cost effective, reducing maintenance and expanding its capacity to service a larger population. 

Construction is due to start in early 2026 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

The nearly $18 million in funding is part of the NSW Government’s Safe and Secure Water Program, supporting up to $1 billion in water infrastructure projects across the state. 

NSW DCCEEW Director for Grants Programs, Kirsty Fenton said: 

“We’re committed to helping regional towns get the infrastructure they need to provide better services to the community and unlock economic growth opportunities, which is why we’ve thrown our support behind Gilgandra to get this project off the ground. 

“This money will enable council to prepare for the future by building a new treatment plant that will keep up with demand, operate more reliably and safeguard the environment. 

“I’m really pleased to see this project inching closer to shovels in the ground and I look forward to seeing it cross the finishing line in 2027.” 

Quotes attributable to the Mayor of Gilgandra Shire Council, Doug Batten said: 

“Our existing infrastructure is under significant strain as the 1960’s design has reached the end of its useful life, and as we work towards a greater population, supported by a new industrial estate, Inland Rail, and renewable energy opportunities, the pressure on the system will only increase. 

“We’re making sure our community has a treatment plant capable of meeting demand while maintaining a higher-quality effluent to better protect the environment.

“This major investment from the NSW Government is a lifeline for our community, enabling us to build a new sewage treatment plant fit for the 21st century, and ensuring we have wastewater infrastructure that will support Gilgandra now and for decades to come.”