Council Optimistic Of State Backing For Pipeline Plan

Newcastle Herald

Thursday January 18, 2007

By PAUL MAGUIRE

UPPER Hunter Mayor Barry Rose is hopeful the region's water crisis will prompt positive State Government backing for a multimillion-dollar pipeline from Glenbawn Dam to Scone and Aberdeen.

Cr Rose confirmed yesterday that council representatives discussed the issue with Treasurer and Minister for the Hunter Michael Costa several weeks ago.

The proposal involves a 16-kilometre long, 500-millimetre diameter pipe to provide water to the two towns that would cost $12 million without a water purifying factory and $16 million with one.

The towns draw water from a bore in the Hunter river bed at Aberdeen.

While Cr Rose declined to detail discussions with Mr Costa, it is understood that the council wants the Government to pay at least half the pipeline bill.

The project was initially floated 10 years ago with the long-range suggestion it could be extended to stimulate hundreds of agricultural jobs on about 400 farms within a 10-kilometre radius of Scone and drinking water for Murrurundi residents.

Parts of the Upper Hunter have been on water restrictions since the end of 2005 and Murrurundi's water shortage resulted in level four restrictions being imposed from yesterday.

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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