Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall and Copeton Waters Holiday Park Manager David Allen inspecting the site of the new system at Copeton Waters.
LIFE for visitors to Copeton Dam near Inverell is about to get a whole lot more comfortable with the installation of a new water treatment plant at the Copeton Waters Holiday Park, according to Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall.
Mr Marshall visited the park last Friday to inspect the progress of work on the new plant and meet park managers David and Karen Allen.
Mr Marshall said the installation of the $600,000 plant, funded byNSW Government’s Public Reserves Management Fund, was due to be completed mid-November and would deliver an ongoing source of fresh drinking water.
“Copeton Dam is a very popular destination for locals and visitors alike so having a reliable source of fresh, drinking water at this important recreational destination is a wonderful thing for the region and its tourism industry,” Mr Marshall said.
“The park is a great venue and is increasing in popularity with campers, water sports enthusiasts and particularly fisherman and woman. The number of visitors to the park in the past six months has increased between 35 and 50 percent so it certainly is gaining an excellent reputation and rightly so.
“The park has up to 80 powered camping sites, several deluxe cabins, a few on-site caravans and unlimited camping for bush campers.
“In the past, fresh water has only been available at a few sites around the park but with this new treatment plant, fresh water will be available from every tap in the park. This will make camping at Copeton Dam so much more convenient and a much more enticing destination.”
Mr Marshall said park managers David and Karen Allen had overseen several upgrades to the park and had worked hard to increase visitation numbers.
“In recent times several of the cabins have been refurbished and with a NSW Better Boating grant, the dam now boasts a 250-metre, concrete boat ramp so access to the dam is so much easier,” he said. “Word has got out among fisherman that not only is the fishing great but access is quick and easy.”
Park Manager David Allen said he was looking forward to turning the taps on in mid-November.
“This will make a wonderful difference and will also allow the park to expand. It’s will be a huge convenience for visitors and take away the confusion as to where they can access water. Every tap in the park will have water,” Mr Allen said.