Regional
Water Supply
Strategy
Securing water supply for the
townships of Quirindi, Werris
Creek and Willow Tree
Liverpool Plains Shire Council
 Liverpool Plains Shire Council LGA
 Within headwaters of the Namoi Valley catchment
in Northwest NSW, 470 kms NW of Sydney
 Water Services to townships of Quirindi, Werris
Creek, Wallabadah, Willow Tree, Spring Ridge,
Premer, Blackville and Caroona
 Area of 5086 kms2 and a combined population of
8000
 Business and employment is currently
dominated by agriculture. Construction
and mining is the expansion growth
driver.
The Current Situation
 Constraints of Current Water Supply – a dichotomy
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Single source - no backup in the event of contamination, scarcity.
Aquifiers are dependent on short term stream flows and favourable climate.
Aquifier groundwater levels in long term decline – not sustainable (McNeilage, 2006)
In 2006-07, township of Willow Tree almost ran dry (Level 7 restrictions were imposed).
Water supply in Wallabadah failed requiring emergency cartage.
 Werris Creek Lvl 4 restrictions – insufficient WTP capacity
Quipolly Dam has enough capacity to supply all townships, but is
only currently connected to Werris Creek.
Opportunity to Grow & Improve
 Mining related growth – indirect impacts
 Independent social impact reviews determine 1450 -1730
new jobs in the Liverpool Plains and Gunnedah LGAs
 BHP Billiton estimates 250-300 new employees in Caroona
Mine. Shenhua Watermark mine similar at Breeza.
 Even more during construction phase.
 Multiplier effect from supporting industries.
MAC Mining Accommodation Development – DA lodged
for miners village requiring water and sewer services
equivalent to 525 dwellings (1500 rooms) in Werris
Creek, effectively doubling the population of the
township
Risks Assessed
 High to extreme risks associated with short and long term water supply
security during dry periods.
 High to extreme risks associated with capacity of water treatment and
storage infrastructure. Pressures from growth being realised already.
 High to extreme risk to supply security caused by reliance on a single water
source. No options if source is contaminated or depleted.
 High to extreme risk associated with reliability of water supply infrastructure.
 High risk of Climate Change impacts.
 Significant structural pressures (particularly in next 5 years).
 Low adaptive capacity to water security risks.
 Infrastructure funding constraints. Water billing revenue base insufficient for
immediate problems.
Regional Water Supply Strategy
Merit Criteria Assessed
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Value for money.
Significant contribution to water security.
Technically feasible and low risk operation.
No negative environmental or social impacts.
Fosters regional growth & prosperity.
Improved level of service to consumers.
Regional Water Supply Strategy
Concept or a dream?
 Stage 0 –works already done
 New 5ML reservoir in Quirindi (completed),
Safety upgrade and storage augmentation of
Quipolly Dam (completed)
 Stage 1
 New centrally located Water Treatment Plant,
raw water pump station augmentation and
treated water pump station, replacement
pipeline to Werris Creek
 Stage 2
 New main from WTP to Quirindi, new balance
tank in Quirindi
 Stage 3
 New main supplying Willow Tree from Quirindi,
pump station for water transfers regionally and
a new reservoir at Willow Tree
Quipolly Dam Upgrade Project
 Safety upgrade catalyst for value added
work.
 Most significant project ever undertaken by
LPSC.
 Integrated approach to design.
 Innovative solution to storage & spillway
flood capacity upgrade.
 Award winning project.
Quipolly Dam Upgrade Project
The Regional Water Supply Strategy
Its all good, lets get started.
 Benefits of the Regional Water Supply Strategy
(RWSS)
 An integrated water supply will provide 2 sources of water
(surface water and groundwater) to all townships.
 A new water treatment plant will provide adequate supply to
facilitate growth in Werris Creek past 2030. Expandable beyond
2030.
 A new water treatment plant will include capability to manage
water quality incidents from Quipolly Dam, improving water
supply security.
 Address water security issues and reservoir capacity issues past
2030 at Willow Tree .
 Provides redundancy for system failures and extreme weather
events.
 Expandable to other supplies if required.