A new 50 gigalitre dam at Dunoon, located downstream of the existing Rocky Creek is under consideration by Rous County Council. 

At a cost of $220 million, the dam is part of the local water authority’s strategy to future-proof our precious drinking water and lessen the need for community water restrictions.

Rous County Councillors unanimously endorsed the proposed Future Water Project 2060 plan at its meeting today.

The plan also included an investment of almost $25 million to upgrade the existing Marom Creek Water Treatment Plant near Wollongbar and utilise the existing groundwater infrastructure.

Construction 

The Dunoon Dam project construction would include 8 kilometres of water pipelines, 12 kilometres of roadworks, two new road bridges, a water pump station, on site storage facilities, power upgrades and public recreation facilities such as walking tracks, picnic areas and amenities. 

Around 50% of the land within the Dunoon dam footprint is currently owned by Council.

Drought

Rous County Council chair Keith Williams said the “once-in-a-generation proposal” was critical to the future, especially due to the recent impact of the worst drought conditions in living memory.

“Demand forecasts indicate that over the next 40 years we will need to supply an additional five gigalitres of water each year, or the equivalent of 2,000 Olympic-size swimming pools,” he said.

“The Future Water Project 2060 sets out the most viable option for boosting our bulk water supply to ensure that future demand can be met in the face of changing climate conditions and sustained population growth.”

Rous County Councilors: Cr Simon Richardson, Cr Vanessa Ekins, Phillip Rudd (General Manager), Cr Sandra Humphrys, Cr Keith Williams (Chair), Michael McKenzie (Future Water Project Manager), Cr Sharon Cadwallader (D/Chair), Cr Darlene Cook, Cr Robert Mustow.

The future

Mr Williams said a new Dunoon Dam was first identified as a future regional water source in the 1990s.

“All of Council’s investigations to date show the Dunoon Dam remains the most affordable and sustainable option for securing the community’s water supply to 2060 and beyond,” he said.

“A new dam is obviously a significant piece of infrastructure with many important ecological, cultural heritage, landowner, funding and other issues we would need to carefully consider as part of its further development. 

“But in the meantime, upgrading the existing Marom Creek treatment plant and utilising existing groundwater infrastructure at Alstonville means we could move quickly to meet the short to medium term demand for water in a cost-effective way.

Public exhibition

The proposed Future Water Project 2060 will be placed on public exhibition for six weeks, beginning on July 1.

Council's General Manager, Phillip Rudd said the proposed Future Water Project 2060 is the culmination of extensive investigations over a long period to find an all-round viable solution for permanently boosting the region’s water supply.

“Most recently, we finished exploring numerous new water source options which were identified in our Future Water Strategy that was adopted in 2014 following extensive community input," Mr Rudd said.

“We particularly looked at the long-term viability of desalination, recycled water, increased groundwater use and the long-proposed Dunoon Dam. 

“An important part of the upcoming public exhibition period is to update the community on the outcome of all our work since the Future Water Strategy was adopted,” Mr Rudd said. 

Due to COVID-19 precautions/restrictions, at this stage Rous County Council will be conducting the public exhibition period primarily via online platforms. 

More information about the proposed Future Water Project 2060 and its public exhibition period (including how to make a written submission) will be available by either visiting www.rous.nsw.gov.au or connecting with Rous County Council via Facebook or by calling (02) 6623 3800.