For the Eurobodalla at least, the Federal Budget had a dam good piece of news to share. Photo: Eurobodalla Shire Council.
It’s fair to say the Federal Budget has left residents of the Eurobodalla pretty dam excited.
It was announced that $51.2 million in federal funding has been allocated to the shire’s new southern water storage securing the project’s future.
The Council has now secured three quarters of the $105 million necessary for the project and the remaining quarter will be provided by Council after the NSW Government allocated $25.6 million last year.
The 3000 megalitre storage, expected to be built west of Bodalla, will pump water from the Tuross River in times of high flow to an off-stream storage and water treatment plant.
The facility will complement Council’s Deep Creek Dam and water treatment plant in Batemans Bay to provide greater drought security and bushfire resilience.
It will also increase capacity for peak holiday water demand and predicted population growth.
Eurobodalla Mayor Liz Innes was delighted by the news, saying the project will give water security to Eurobodalla residents and businesses for decades to come.
“We are so grateful for this funding.”
“Bega MP Andrew Constance and NSW Water Minister Melinda Pavey have backed this and now the federal government has come to the party,” she said.
According to Cr Innes, it’s been a long road to get the project secured as the Council began work on the project back in 2016 when they allocated $3.5 million to commence the planning.
Development consent was not provided by the NSW Department of Planning until 2019.
Construction of the water pump station is already under way.
“Our water and sewer team has done an incredible job showing great vision and commitment to get on with the job,” Cr Innes added.
Eurobodalla Council’s general manager Dr Catherine Dale praised Cr Innes for her work in the journey so far, saying she had been a persistent advocate for the cause.
“Our Mayor collared politicians at every opportunity to keep this important project on their agenda,” she said.
The proposed works will be located about 30 km south of Moruya on an ephemeral street about 950 m east of the Tuross River. The majority of the works will be within the Bodalla State Forest with road access via the Princes Highway and Eurobodalla Road.
In order to minimise environmental stress on the Tuross River system, water will be selectively withdrawn from the Tuross River depending on flow conditions.
Construction of the Tuross River pump station is expected to be complete early next year while the dam site is expected to be cleared in February 2022.
More information about the project can be found online.
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