Last week at its March ordinary meeting Council voted to accept the final report submitted by GHD, a global water services company, which suggests an 800 megalitre off-stream storage dam on a small tributary of the Apsley River is a better option than a large 25 gigalitre dam on the Apsley River. While the vote was unanimous, some councillors did request the Apsley River dam option not be dismissed entirely but just shelved until the Macdonald River opportunities were explored further.

Director of Engineering Dylan Reeves said this was a positive result and the next stage was to start another feasibility study on potential sites around the MacDonald River.

In 2016 the Federal Government announced the allocation of $100,000 to investigate the potential for growth in demand and water security for the township as well as the catchment including irrigated agriculture. The GHD report was the final stage of this investigation. Council is now applying for another $175,000 to investigate the Macdonald River options and is hoping this work can be completed by July next year.

“The GHD report contains a cost-benefit analysis that supports the conclusion that the economic benefit of constructing a large dam on the Apsley River was marginal,” said Mr Reeves.

“The report also highlights the potential for improved environmental outcomes by splitting the town water demand between the Apsley and Macdonald Rivers and applying to increase the current cap on our Macdonald River extraction license to allow us to harvest and store water when the river is in full flow, so we don't need to do it when it is stressed. At the end of the next phase, we will have an accurate understanding of what the cost of building a dam will be and finalise our integrated water cycle management strategy.”

According to Mr Reeves, the complex approval process surrounding the building of water harvesting infrastructure means Walcha is probably facing another decade of water restrictions until the new solution, whatever it may be, is operational.

Related:

Apsley Dam under review

From the mayors desk – Walcha’s water security options

Apsley Dam project to benefit Walcha

Barnaby determined to resurrect Apsley Dam idea – comment