Learn more about boosting Tamworth’s drought resilience

The NSW Government will outline how it plans to lock in water security for Tamworth over the short and longer term to ensure the city is well prepared for a future drought during community information sessions taking place next week.

We will be updating residents about proposed changes to the Chaffey Dam reserve – a temporary solution that could be used to avoid severe water shortages and secure Tamworth’s water supply in the short term, while longer-term options are being considered.

There will also be information on the progress of investigations into proposed long-term infrastructure projects, including exploring the feasibility of building an industrial advanced water treatment plant, intervalley pipelines to connect the city with existing water sources, and improved off-river storages.

Locals can drop in to talk to the project team at Shoppingworld Tamworth next week, or dial into an online webinar to get the latest information from the comfort of home.

• Webinar - Monday 24 February, 5.30-6.30pm - register
• Information stall - Wednesday 26 February, 9am-5pm, Shoppingworld Tamworth
• Information stall - Thursday 27 February, 9am-5pm, Shoppingworld Tamworth

Increasing the amount of water set aside in Chaffey Dam for Tamworth’s town water supply would immediately improve the water security of Tamworth, while reducing the amount of time spent under water restrictions if a drought were to occur.

The proposed measure seeks to hold an additional 7.1 gigalitres in Chaffey Dam for the town, allowing 100 per cent of the city’s drinking water to be reserved for two consecutive years.

How and when the reserve increase would be triggered would be based on dam levels, climate forecasts and risks to the city’s water security. The measure could be lifted when conditions improved or when longer-term investigations are complete.

These short and long-term options are outlined in the Namoi Regional Water Strategy which provides a roadmap to more secure water for Tamworth over the next two decades.

To learn more about the proposed infrastructure projects, visit:

• Tamworth Advanced Water Treatment Plant and
• Tamworth Intervalley Pipelines and Off-River Storages Project

Learn more about proposed changes to the Chaffey Dam reserve.

NSW DCCEEW Director of Inland Planning Peter Hyde said: 

“We know Tamworth’s dams can go from full to empty in less than six years, and as short as four years in extremely dry conditions. By July 2020, at the height of the state’s worst drought ever recorded, dams reached a historic low of 14 per cent.

“These unprecedented conditions hit the city extremely hard, with severe water restrictions putting intense pressure on residents and businesses.

“To ensure the community is not faced with this dire scenario again, we are readying measures that can be implemented quickly if another extreme drought hits, while we continue to progress and investigate long-term infrastructure solutions.

“These include co-funding the delivery of a $6 million full business case with the Australian Government and Tamworth Regional Council, to investigate building the state’s first regional industrial advanced water treatment plant to reduce the amount of town water being used by large agricultural processing and manufacturing businesses.

“We’re also investing $3 million to deliver a preliminary business case that will explore building intervalley pipelines and off-river storages to increase water supply and boost drought resilience.

“However, these projects are only in the investigative stages, so we need temporary solutions like the Chaffey Dam reserve changes up our sleeve if another severe drought hits. Importantly, this measure alone could extend Tamworth’s water supply by up to eight months.

I invite everyone to come out and learn more about this important proposal to safeguard water for Tamworth and share their feedback at our information stall and webinar next week.”

Tamworth Mayor Russell Webb said:

“We haven’t forgotten the impacts of the last drought which is why water security is always a top priority for Tamworth Regional Council and why we have been advocating for short term and long-term measures to enable us to keep the taps on during the next dry spell.

“We know that we need new infrastructure but that’s not going to be delivered overnight which is why we need to look at other short-term measures that will extend the period of time before Tamworth runs short of water if another severe drought hits us out of the blue like it did back in 2017.

“I welcome the proposal to increase the amount of town water supply set aside in Chaffey Dam, but it’s important that we talk to the community about this measure first which is why I encourage everyone to stop by the information stall next week and have a chat to the NSW Government project team and learn more about this idea.”