Belubula Water Security Project

About the project

The proposed Belubula Water Security Project aims to improve water availability and increased drought resilience for residents, businesses, and the environment across the Belubula Valley.

The department’s Water Group is investigating options aligned with the Lachlan Regional Water Strategy and the Macquarie-Castlereagh Regional Water Strategy. 

The following 4 infrastructure options were initially identified for consideration:

Project location

The Belubula Valley is part of the Lachlan catchment in central west NSW, within the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people.

The Belubula River rises midway between Orange and Bathurst flowing south and west through the towns of Blayney, Carcoar and Canowindra.

Project need

The Belubula Valley has relatively limited storage capacity in Lake Rowlands Dam. The dam fills quickly and frequently overflows, in part due to its limited size and highly variable rainfall. Inefficient water storage and unreliable access to water contribute to making the catchment very sensitive to droughts. The project is investigating a range of solutions to improve water availability and efficiency to ensure the region is in the best position to weather the next drought.

Project funding

The NSW and Australian Governments are jointly funding $7.7 million to develop a Full Business Case for the project, with the Australian Government contributing through the National Water Grid Fund.

Project status

The project is in planning stage. A full business case is required to further assess feasibility and viability of options including the project scope, benefits and cost, and regulatory pathway.

The department’s Water Group will lead this analysis and integrate stakeholder consultation to ensure preferred options are identified and progressed.

The outcomes of these studies and consultations will be included in the full business case, which will guide future funding decisions by the NSW and Australian Governments.

The full business case is expected to be finalised in 2026.

Stakeholder engagement

We are committed to building and maintaining respectful, trusted and collaborative relationships with our communities and stakeholders to ensure water infrastructure projects achieve the best possible outcomes.

We will offer opportunities for communities and stakeholders, including First Nations communities, to engage with us and provide feedback as we develop the full business case for the project.

What we heard 

Consultation on the infrastructure options occurred over two phases during 2024 – 2026.  A what we heard report from each phase of consultation is available.

A recording of each webinar is provided below.