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.

A $2 million additional emergency groundwater bore for Wilcannia, including reticulation to the water treatment plant, is due to be completed by mid-2026.

The bore will be used in severe drought when the river is dry, ensuring Wilcannia has a reliable backup water supply should there be water quality or pipeline issues with the current bore at Union Bend.

We have been working closely with key stakeholders including First Nations, Central Darling Shire Council, community and landholders to progress the project.

Test bores at two potential sites in the Wilcannia Golf Course will soon be drilled to determine the water flow rate and quality, with the intention of converting one of the test bores to a production bore. 

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. 

Proposed sites for test drilling, for new emergency groundwater bore

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Bore sites. close Close description

Groundwater bore project timeline

Early 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
• Drill test bores and test water quality and water rates

Mid 2026

• Convert the most suitable test bore to a production bore 

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.