A $970,000 grant scored by Glen Innes Severn Council (GISC) to secure the town’s water supply will effectively make the town drought-proof, making it an attractive prospect for business investment, member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said.
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GISC was one of only 10 councils to receive money in this $17 million round of grants under the state’s Water Security for Regional Program, and Mr Marshall said it will make Glen Innes one of the few towns in the state to be considered drought-proof.
Council would use the funds to complete stage two of its Glen Innes Aggregates Off Stream Storage project, which involves developing the northern pit at the quarry for off-stream storage and investigating and developing new bores and upgrading the Red Range Road bore.
“This will effectively give the town 14 months of additional storage after the Beardy Weir supply is fully depleted,” GISC integrated water and sustainability services manager Keith Appleby said. Mr Appleby authored the successful application for grant funding, along with finance manager Eric Brown.
The quality basalt has been quarried from the northern pit leaving only 50,000 tonnes of sub-grade material remaining to be removed. Mr Appleby said a geotechnical investigation, conducted by NSW Public Works has confirmed the suitability of the site for both short and long term water storage.
“However following the investigation, there was concern that the northern pit may not hold water in its current form, and would require reshaping of the sides of the pit and lining with clay material. A large volume of suitable clay is available on site.”
Development of the northern pit will include removal of the sub-grade material, battering the banks, relining of the pit, and putting in submersible pumps, aeration and associated pipe work, Mr Appleby said.
“A solar electricity system will also be installed at the quarry to reduce operating costs, and a shallow solar pump will be installed in the southern pit to return the minor leakage of water to the supply.
“Council also proposes to increase water storage capacity through upgrading the existing bore on the Red Range Road, and installing a second bore nearby, as well as installing another bore at the quarry.”
Mr Marshall said that as well as securing a good quality, reliable water supply for Glen Innes, the project will deliver substantial economic benefits to the local community and region.
“I commend the council on its vision and commitment to addressing this critical issue. The quality of its submission and strategic planning is a credit to councillors and staff. I was very pleased to play my part as well.”
GISC general manager Hein Basson welcomed the announcement and said council was ready to complete the project.
“This funding will allow council to finish the second stage of the project that commenced in 2011 with the purchase of the quarry on the outskirts of town,” he said.
“The project provides a unique win/win opportunity, whereby a problem for the quarry – the site requiring rehabilitation – becomes a solution for the water supply through off stream storage.
“It is anticipated that this project finally addresses the vexing topic of water security for Glen Innes – a concern that dates back over 40 years.”
Mayor Colin Price said long term there was the potential for the two pits to be combined into one huge water reserve, resulting in an effective water supply solution for the town at a fraction of the cost of various options mulled over by earlier councils over the decades.
Ample reserves do not mean the end of water restrictions, with Mr Appleby saying that no council can ever guarantee such a outlook. It does mean that water monitors have more room to move before bringing in restrictions.
“The (water restrictions) plan will be reviewed once stage two is all in place,” he said.
“They were already relaxed in stage one of the upgrade. They will be further relaxed in stage two.”
