Water security and sustainable growth for the Guyra region is a high priority for Armidale Regional Council.
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Currently Guyra does not have a safe, secure water supply and there is an unacceptable risk of running out of water during drought conditions. Drought and lack of water can have substantial economic and public health consequences for communities.
Further more there is currently no available water to promote economic development in the Guyra region including further development of the horticultural industry which is vital for our region’s future.
Council, supported by a number of the State’s water experts has investigated potential options to provide water security to Guyra.
These options include raising the dam wall in Guyra, construction of an off-stream storage, effluent reuse from the sewage treatment plant and connecting the Guyra water supply to Malpas Dam by a pipeline.
The investigation undertaken by the NSW Department of Public Works and the expert water advisory firm WREMA found that based on historical demand and rainfall records raising the dam would fall well short of water supply capacity required to secure Guyra long term water needs.
Armidale Regional Council CEO Peter Dennis said the evidence presented by experts in the field of water security pointed to a direct connection via a pipeline from Malpas Dam to Guyra as the most effective long term option to secure the region’s water supply.
“Based on the expert work to date, raising the dam wall would not provide long -term confidence for further residential growth in Guyra and would effectively cap any further economic growth particularly in terms of horticultural investment,” Mr Dennis said.
“A direct connection from Malpas Dam to the Guyra Water Treatment Plant was found to be the only feasible option to obtain secure future yield for residents under current growth projections while also providing the security for future economic growth.
“A pipeline is the best long term option for both water security and economic growth.”
Further work undertaken on the business case completed for Council through the NSW Office of Regional Development has resulted in the Guyra Pipeline proposal attracting a Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) of 2.8 which means for every dollar invested in the project, $2.80 will be returned in new economic growth and benefits to the local community.
The business case factors in the operating costs including power of the scheme.
The project makes good economic sense.
“In an environment of growing climate variability and extremes it makes good economic sense to invest in Guyra’s water security to reduce dependency on rainfall in a small catchment,” Mr Dennis said.
“The Guyra Pipeline ensures a very high level of certainty in security of water supply which will bolster confidence in Guyra’s economic future and unleash investment needed to grow local jobs.”
Council would like to encourage the community to get behind the project to secure Guyra’s water supply.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has released a petition encouraging members of the public to sign to show their support for the important investment in our region.
The petition to upgrade Guyra’s water supply is now available in Mr Marshall’s Armidale electorate office (175 Rusden Street) and Armidale Regional Council’s Guyra administration office in Bradley Street.
The petition is also available online at www.adammarshall.com.au/petition
