A mammoth project to provide up to 800,000 litres of clean drinking water to the village of Wyangala has finally been completed, offering sweet hydration to residents and tourists ahead of the summer holiday season.
The $5.5 million Wyangala Water Treatment Plant will replace the old plant built in 1995, with residents required to boil water from 2017 onwards due to water safety concerns. The new facility, owned and operated by Cowra Council, will provide water to the village, and the nearby Reflections Wyangala Waters holiday park.
“We are delighted to be part of this upgrade and are looking forward to offering a clean water supply to Wyangala residents,” Cowra Mayor, Paul Smith, said.
“It will make a big difference for visitors to the Lake Wyangala recreation area as they have not had potable water in the past, and we hope it will help attract more visitors to this special corner of the shire.”
Despite the village being located next to a dam that can hold more than double the volume of Sydney Harbour, the seven-year journey to quality water at Wyangala has been a long time coming. The achievement has been noted by Federal Water Minister, Tanya Plibersek, who highlighted that Wyangala residents are some of the many communities across the country who have lived without the simple pleasure of drinking straight from the tap.
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“Across Australia, about 600,000 people live in places without access to clean drinking water. That’s unacceptable,” she said.
“All communities must have access to clean, safe drinking water – including small communities like Wyangala.”
State water Minister, Rose Jackson, spruiked new technology set to supply quality water for decades to come.
“The new water treatment plant has the latest technology so that locals can feel confident they’re always getting top-notch drinking water whenever they turn on their taps,” Ms Jackson said.
“This project is a win for everyone – investing in water infrastructure improves the liveability of our regional towns, attracting more visitors and boosting the local economy.”
Member for Cootamundra and Shadow Water Minister, Steph Cooke, described the development as a “game-changer” for the village, which relies heavily on visitor and local tourism.
“Millions of Australians turn on the tap for clean, treated water without a second thought every day. Very soon, our Wyangala residents and visitors will be able to do the same, enjoying the same level of service as those in our city centres,” Ms Cooke said.
“Everyone deserves access to safe, potable water – regardless of where they live. It’s a great day to see the Wyangala community one step closer to enjoying this fundamental human right, with state-of-the-art infrastructure to ensure reliable water service for years to come.”
Ms Cooke added that the project injected more than $820,000 into the local economy, with contractors from across the shire engaged to deliver the “critical water infrastructure,” but there was a strong need for more action.
Towns down the highway like Boorowa and Yass who have dealt with major boil water notices, extending out to 26 days in a row last summer, and residents have experienced rashes, staining of their bathrooms and kitchens, and even gastro, which they say is because of poor water quality.
“I had hoped to see more action across our towns and villages, particularly after a summer plagued by boil-water notices across the region and as more residents move to historic townships like Boorowa,” Ms Cooke said.
“Boorowa is less than two hours from our nation’s capital and faces another uncertain time after spending more than five weeks under a boil-water notice last summer. There has been plenty of talk but no real progress. I will continue to advocate for critical water infrastructure projects for our communities.”
