At Malpas Dam yesterday celebrating the good news and impenitent start on the Malpas Dam to Guyra water pipeline, Guyra Chamber of Commerce’s Alan St Clair, Costa Group representative Bryony Hackett, Armidale Regional Council Acting CEO Lindsay Woodland, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Former Guyra Shire Mayor Hans Hietbrink, Armidale Regional Mayor Simon Murray, Guyra Citizen of the Year Dot Vickery and Armidale Regional Councillor Peter Bailey.
Wednesday, 27 June 2018
Council puts $12.3 million ‘game-changing’ project to tender
THE Malpas Dam foreshore was the scene of jubilant celebrations yesterday as Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall presented a $12.375 million NSW Government cheque to Armidale Regional Council to construct the critical Malpas Dam to Guyra water pipeline.
The presentation to Mayor Simon Murray marked the formal funding of the project, which the Mr Marshall and council had campaigned for the last two years.
With the funding now locked in, Mr Marshall commended Armidale Regional Council for acting quickly, already putting the project out to public tender.
Mr Marshall said Guyra’s water woes would soon be in the past with the new 15 kilometre pipeline and associated water treatment infrastructure to start construction soon and permanently drought-proof the community, ensuring continued growth in the region.
“This pipeline is a game changer for our region,” Mr Marshall said. “It will singlehandedly solve Guyra’s water security and quality issues for good and I couldn’t be happier for everyone in the community.
“With low rainfall threatening to leave Guyra dry in recent years, it was clear that action had to be taken to allow the community to continue to grow and its substantial horticultural industry to expand.”
Guyra uses an average 423 megalitres of water each year, with demand steadily increasing, which far exceeds the town’s current storage capacity of 277 megalitres. The pipeline will expand that capacity to more than 740 megalitres, exceeding anticipated growth over the next 30 years.
Mr Marshall said discoloured, foul smelling and poor quality potable water from the local water supply at Guyra had been an ongoing issue and would also be resolved with the pipeline and new water treatment facilities.
“This problem arises every time the town’s storage levels fall and with Guyra using far more water than is available in storage, this risked becoming a regular occurrence without immediate intervention,” he said.
“But a pipeline and the construction of a new treatment plant to replace the old one will permanently resolve those issues. This will not only benefit every resident who uses town water, but also help provide infinite capacity for Guyra’s expanding horticultural industry.
“This project is critical to unlocking Guyra’s growth potential and I thank the community and council for its incredibly strong support for this project.
“Together, we have ensured that Guyra’s water security is no longer a pipe dream.”