The dam wall for Eurobodalla's southern water storage facility is finished. A major step in securing the shire's future water supply, the 3,000 megalitre off-river storage by the Tuross River is ready for site revegetation and the final electrical and mechanical systems to be installed before testing begins.
Eurobodalla Council's director of infrastructure Graham Attenborough says it will take some time to fill the dam.
"Once testing is complete, we need the right conditions – with good flow in the Tuross, before we can begin pumping water into storage. Likely it will take another six months to fill and fully commission the facility," Mr Attenborough says.
Council's project manager Harvey Lane says the project is critical to the shire's long-term water security.
"The southern storage complements our main facility at Deep Creek Dam and, in the short term, provides a backup supply during dry periods," Mr Lane says.
"For the near future, residents will only draw on the southern storage if the region is in drought and Deep Creek is depleted.
Mr Attenborough says plans are afoot to open up the facility for community inspection some time I the new year, once some water is in the storage.
"We're proud of this project and want residents to see the benefits for themselves," he says.
