21 October 2019
The Federal and New South Wales government will deliver a $1 billion water infrastructure package for rural and regional communities affected by the drought in NSW
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian, said both Liberal and Nationals governments had been working together to fund critical water infrastructure projects, including new and expanded dam projects.
“Our response to the ongoing drought impacting rural and regional communities is comprehensive and committed. It deals with immediate needs for financial assistance in and longer term investments to build drought resilience for the future,” the Prime Minister said.
The infrastructure package includes a $650 million upgrade of Wyangala Dam in Central West NSW, along with $480 million for the new Dungowan Dam near Tamworth.
The Morrison Government said, “Our 50/50 investment with the state government in these priority large-scale water infrastructure projects will free up NSW funding to allow them to progress critical town water projects across NSW. We want to get these projects underway because this is about water supply and security.
“We’re also investing an initial $24 million on a 50/50 basis with NSW for the 100,000-megalitre proposed Border Rivers project on the Mole River, near the Queensland border. This will ensure the project is shovel ready and help to identify the potential benefits that could flow on to irrigators and local communities in NSW and potentially Queensland.
The funding brings water infrastructure expenditure to $1.5 billion across 21 projects both committed and underway, as part of $7 billion in drought support funding.
Ms Berejiklian said the NSW Government has already committed close to $3 billion to drought relief and water security since 2017.
Formalised agreements between the Federal and NSW governments outlining timeframes will be finalised soon.
