Wilcannia Water Security and Quality

A new water treatment plant is due to begin construction later this year, ensuring the Wilcannia community continues to have access to clean and reliable water.  

The plant is designed to treat 1.2 ML of water per day and replaces existing infrastructure built in the 1970s.

It is one of three water treatment plants being delivered across the Central Darling Shire thanks to a major $21.5 million investment from the Australian and NSW Governments to boost water security and quality for communities in Wilcannia, White Cliffs and Ivanhoe.  

The existing water treatment plants are now at the end of their design life which puts the puts the delivery of safe, clean drinking water at risk and means that residents sometimes have to rely on bottles or boiled water.  

Maintenance costs and the time spent fixing problems have also been an ongoing issue for Central Darling Shire Council. 

The project will significantly improve water quality and reliability for these communities by delivering infrastructure fit for the 21st century.  

The project is funded thanks to $10 million from the Australian Government’s National Water Grid Fund and $11.5 million from the NSW Government. 

A tender was awarded to SNG Engineering Pty Ltd to build the new Wilcannia water treatment plant.

An additional emergency groundwater bore for Wilcannia, including reticulation to the water treatment plant, is progressing with key milestones reached in mid-2026 ahead of drilling. 

The bore will provide an additional emergency water supply during severe drought when the river is dry, or if there are water quality or operational issues with the existing bores at Union Bend.

We have been working closely with key stakeholders including First Nations communities, Central Darling Shire Council, Wilcannia Golf Club and community members to progress the project.

An Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit (AHIP) has been approved for the 2 proposed test bores sites, allowing work to proceed while ensuring First Nations cultural heritage is appropriately managed. Artefact salvage was completed early July in partnership with Austral Archaeology, Barkandji Rangers, Wilcannia Golf Club, Central Darling Shire Council, and the department. 

Download the 2026 Minor Works Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for the Wilcannia Additional Groundwater Bore.

During early August 2026, test drilling commenced at 2 test bore sites at the Wilcannia Golf Course. The commencement of test drilling works was marked by a smoking ceremony held on Country. 

The test bores will allow the project team to: 

• confirm groundwater flow rates
• assess water quality
• identify the most suitable location for the production bore.

Local Barkandji Rangers will provide cultural heritage supervision during drilling activities, as required. Following confirmation of the production bore, reticulation works will be completed by Central Darling Shire Council to connect the bore to the Wilcannia Water Treatment Plant.

The Wilcannia additional emergency bore is funded separately from the Wilcannia Weir Replacement Project. Upon identifying the need for the additional emergency bore in 2023 as part of the integrated approach to water security and quality for Wilcannia, the Department's Water Group internally sourced $2 million to fund the construction of the bore. 

Test drilling locations for additional emergency groundwater bore

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Bore sites. close Close description

Groundwater bore project timeline

Mid 2026

• Complete any outstanding Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment issues and any related activities
• Confirm environmental approvals
• Continued liaison with landowners, operators and proposed asset owner for proposed bore locations
• Continue procurement and licensing tasks

Mid–late 2026

• Drill test bores and test water quality and water rates
• Convert the most suitable test bore to a production bore
• Central Darling Shire Council construct reticulation line to the water treatment plant.

Stakeholder engagement 

The NSW Government will continue to work closely with the Barkandji community, Central Darling Shire Council, Wilcannia Golf Club, and other stakeholders as the project progresses and will provide further updates as key milestones are reached.

Work on developing a replacement weir in Wilcannia has been paused after the Australian Government confirmed it is unable to commit further funding to the project at this time.

In 2021, the local community worked with WaterNSW to develop a concept design for a new weir. An Environmental Impact Statement for the concept design was placed on public exhibition in 2022, with documents available on the NSW Planning Portal website.

Following submissions on the Environmental Impact Statement, and drawing on extensive stakeholder consultation and feedback since scoping studies for the new weir began in 2016, NSW DCCEEW put forward a revised design and fishway to address environmental, safety and operational concerns identified with the concept design.

However, this revised design was not supported by the community. 

In 2024, Minister Jackson commissioned an Independent Review Panel to engage closely with the community regarding their preferred design. 

While the Panel heard strong feedback, no conclusive recommendations were made about which option should be progressed. 

Read the Independent Review Panel’s report (PDF, 19247.87 KB)

Revised design

The revised weir design is a fixed crest type, and the crest height will be approximately 4.2m with the highest points on the outer edges being approximately 5.5 metres.

It will provide an additional 400 ML of water security for the town. This will boost water storage by 20 per cent and is a significant step change in water security for Wilcannia. The new weir design has been developed to allow for future modification if required, including being raised, subject to additional funding being sourced and planning approvals being granted.

Unlike the old weir, the revised design includes a fishway allowing fish to migrate upstream past the weir. It will be a vertical-slot type fishway and will be constructed next to the northern bank of the river.

The revised design improves water security for Wilcannia while also being safer and more affordable, with less impact on the environment and culturally significant sites.

Wilcannia’s original weir, constructed in 1942 to provide a reliable town water supply, is no longer operational.

Weir and fishway detailed concept design (aerial view)

Upgrades to the Hood and Martin Street sewage pump stations were completed in early 2024 to better protect the Darling Baaka River.

The stormwater mitigation works are a key piece of the integrated, system-wide approach for Wilcannia’s water security and wastewater management, delivering a low-maintenance, affordable and reliable solution to protect against effluent overflows in the event of a power failure or blockage.

New pipework and two new high-powered diesel pumps were installed that  automatically spring into action if the underground effluent reaches a high level.

This prevents untreated waste from entering the stormwater system and eventually seeping into the river.

Bulk water meters will soon be installed throughout the Wilcannia reticulation network,  thanks to a $150,000 grant, to measure water volumes and flows, helping improve water data and enable better informed water management decisions.