The NSW Government has made available the Summary Business Case for the New Dungowan Dam, confirming the project is the most viable solution to secure Tamworth's future water needs.
Minister for Lands and Water and Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said the summary business case shows the New Dungowan Dam and Pipeline is the only project that ticks all the boxes including diversifying water sources, increasing town water supply, boosting drought security, and maintaining water for agriculture needs.
"The business case makes it very clear - building the New Dungowan Dam and Pipeline is the only solution that will future proof water supply for Tamworth without impacting the $2 billion a year agricultural industry," Mr Anderson said.
"If you want greater water security, you need the right infrastructure in place to improve the way we capture and store water, so the region is on the front foot when the next drought comes.
"Building the New Dungowan Dam and Pipeline will be the turning point for water security for Tamworth and the Peel Valley, nearly halving the risk of the town running out of water during droughts.
"If we don't build the dam and pipeline, we are back to ground zero. It takes years, sometimes decades, to get infrastructure projects shovel ready, but subject to a co-contribution from the Commonwealth, the New Dungowan Dam will have bulldozers in the ground by 2023, once the appropriate planning approvals are in place.
"Without water infrastructure economic growth stops, people's livelihoods are on the line and employment opportunities disappear, which is why you cannot measure water security infrastructure in dollars alone.
"We need to consider the real risks that climate change presents to water supply including the cost of relocating towns without adequate water and the risk of farmers walking off the land.
"Resolving water security in the Peel Valley is estimated to enable millions of dollars in investment and thousands of new local jobs."
The Summary Business Case contains elements of the Final Business Case that protects information that is Cabinet in Confidence or Commercial in Confidence.
The Summary Business Case is available at Dungowan Dam Summary Business Case (PDF, 791.23 KB).
The NSW Government has made available the Summary Business Case for the New Dungowan Dam.
