Improving water security on the South Coast

The NSW Government is investigating ways to shore up water security for Bermagui for decades to come, thanks to a $3 million investment from the state and the Australian Government’s National Water Grid Fund.

The co-funding will launch a preliminary business case examining the best infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions to address water reliability issues for the town of nearly 3,000, whose supply system has the highest unaddressed risk on the South Coast, particularly during drought.

Bermagui draws its town water from the Brogo dam, which fell to historically low levels in January 2020 as the region suffered the worst dry period on record. Likewise, river levels were so low that the pumps delivering drinking water to the town couldn’t operate properly.

It meant dam regulators had to make emergency operational adjustments so Bermagui didn’t run out of water.

The preliminary business case will take an in-depth look at several options to secure and drought-proof town water supply in the face of an increasingly variable climate future.

It will investigate:

• Whether changing the reserve set aside in Brogo Dam could improve Bermagui town water supply during extreme conditions
• The feasibility of constructing a weir at the supply offtake site with enough water depth during low-flow periods for pumps to continue to operate
• Various weir pool volumes and whether a redesign or relocation of the supply offtake would improve water security for the town

These options were also shortlisted in the South Coast Regional Water Strategy, launched in 2022, which put forward wide-ranging solutions to boost water security and drought resilience in the region for the next two decades and beyond.

The preliminary business case will deliver a raft of early planning and development work, including detailed technical, engineering, economic, environmental and cultural heritage studies, which will inform final recommendations ahead of any options proceeding.

We expect this work to be completed by December 2026. We will also consult closely with the community to keep them informed and updated as things progress.

For more information, visit the project website at Bermagui Water Security Preliminary Business Case.

NSW DCCEEW Executive Director Infrastructure Development Lisa Hingerty said:

“It’s important we act now to future-proof town water supplies for communities right across regional NSW, giving them the best tools possible to prepare for and weather another drought.

“We want a safe, secure, resilient, and enduring drinking supply for Bermagui, which we know is incredibly vulnerable to extreme conditions.

“Shoring up water for residents and businesses will also boost the economy and promote regional development and growth, supporting the thriving tourism industry and local businesses on the South Coast.

“We know there is no one-size-fits-all solution to increasing water security, which is why we are running the ruler over a range of options, including new infrastructure, to best meet the town’s water needs for this generation and the next.”