Squeeze On Towns

Newcastle Herald

Friday August 4, 2006

Reports by FRANCES THOMPSON Upper Hunter Reporter

RESIDENTS in the Upper Hunter towns of Scone, Murrurundi and Aberdeen are likely to be on level three water restrictions before the end of the year in an effort to conserve supplies in the lead-up to summer.

Upper Hunter Shire Council has introduced level one restrictions for Murrurundi and Aberdeen.

Murrurundi's water supplies are being augmented by a Pages River well, but the water has to be treated heavily to make it drinkable.

The towns rely on the Hunter River for water after underground aquifers dried up.

Council technical services director Bede Spannagle said recent heavy rains eased the situation but unless there was more, the situation would not improve substantially.

He said the council could ensure supplies during the winter months.

Singleton and Muswellbrook shires are also on restrictions.

Storage levels in Upper Hunter dams at Glennies Creek and Glenbawn continue to fall.

Glenbawn is at 35 per cent capacity and Glennies Creek at 37 per cent.

Mr Spannagle said the council had allocated $250,000 in its 2006-07 budget to investigate expanding effluent recycling for watering sports fields in the Murrurundi area.

He said 100 per cent of effluent was already recycled for similar purposes in Scone.

After numerous appeals, the shire's application for NSW government funding under the country towns water supply and sewerage scheme to improve water delivery to Scone and Aberdeen from Glenbawn Dam and raise the Murrurundi Dam wall has been rejected and no further avenues are available.

Meetings are scheduled between Upper Hunter shire Mayor Barry Rose and the NSW Opposition over how the Coalition would fund the scheme if it won the 2007 state election.

© 2006 Newcastle Herald

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