Council is working to progress the proposed Queanbeyan to Bungendore bulk water supply pipeline to tender-ready status.
After developing the plan with considerable community feedback, Council adopted the Bungendore Structure Plan in 2019. The Structure Plan identified growth scenarios for Bungendore, with the 'medium growth rate' set just above 3.3% per year (the average growth rate in 2016).
In 2019, Council also adopted the Palerang Communities Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) Strategy. The most significant issue in the IWCM was securing additional town water to support the growth of Bungendore. A variety of options were explored, and groundwater was identified as the most cost-effective scenario.
In 2016, Council had begun the search for fractured rock sources of water. Two sites were considered potentially viable, with an estimated combined yield of 630ML/a. Council was issued a water access licence of 1,000ML/a in July 2019.
Council then made a formal application for works approval to commission these two bores. However, in 2021 Council was issued with a combined works approval of just 216ML/a from the two bores. Unfortunately, this meant that fractured rock was no longer considered a reliable solution for addressing the future of Bungendore's water supply needs.
As a result, the NSW Department of Planning and Environment stated that they would not support any planning proposals to rezone land identified in the Bungendore Structure Plan for future residential use.
The remaining option proposed by the IWCM, that can provide a secure source of water for Bungendore and allow for its future growth, is a bulk water supply pipeline and this has become the most viable option.
The pipeline addresses three key concerns for Bungendore:
- Planned residential growth - securing town water for current and future residents
- Drought resilience - providing an additional water source during extended dry periods
- Contamination risk – reducing contamination risk through an additional water source
'In April 2023, after considering a feasibility study, Council endorsed progressing the development of the water supply pipeline to a tender-ready stage,' said Mayor Kenrick Winchester
'Council has not approved constructing the project. Progressing the project to a tender-ready stage has meant working on six key factors that must be approved or completed before the project can be considered for construction.'
Of the six factors:
- Design and technical specifications are complete
- Development approval via the Review of Environmental Factors is in progress, with the REF currently on exhibition at yourvoice.qprc.nsw.gov.au
- Land acquisition negotiations are in progress
- Intergovernmental approvals are in progress
- Grant funding application is in progress
- Water pricing, including what a developer would pay for connecting each block to the water service, and the review of the Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy are in progress
Once all six factors are tender-ready Council must decide whether to take on the project and proceed with tenders and construction.
'The construction of the pipeline will not be possible without grant funding. We expect that if the project proceeds, construction would be paid for by a grant and a loan which would be repaid through developer contributions,' Mayor Winchester continued.
The Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy is a 30-year plan that is reviewed after 4 years. It guides the future delivery of water and sewer services, servicing, and fees paid by residents and businesses.
Mayor Winchester said, 'We expect the reviewed strategy to be presented to the public later in 2025. This is an opportunity for the community to learn more about our plan to supply water over the next 30 years.'
Without the pipeline, Bungendore cannot continue to grow as identified in the adopted Bungendore Structure Plan 2018-2048, and all greenfield development beyond the approved subdivisions has been paused.
