While the dam level at Armidale Regional Airport fell as the RFS continued its fight to control local bushfires, Armidale Regional Council managed to bring a new bore came on line this week which was officially opened on Thursday, December 5.
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It was part of council's ongoing test drilling to locate possible aquifers in and around Armidale and Guyra to supplement town water supplies.
RFS zone manager for New England Superintendent Steve Mepham welcomed the new supply.
"It's good we have some guaranteed water supplies as backup for our firefighting efforts, obviously we have been quite concerned about using domestic supplies for just putting out fires," he said.
"We have had to truck water in since we started operations in August. We've been through about 1.3 million litres and that's all been trucked in.
"To have a bore close by is like gold."
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Supt. Mepham said he believed the RFS had contributed to the cost of the bore.
"I'm not sure what exactly what figure, that's being done through head office, but I understand we have been involved with the costing and commissioning of this bore," he said.
Mayor Simon Murray said the 114-metre-deep bore pumped 18,000 litres per hour, and could operate for 16 hours per day to provide up to 288,000 litres of water.
"Enough to fill the RFS tank at the airport, which has a capacity of 172,000 litres," Cr Murray said.
"We knew from previous drilling that the site would provide sufficient water, so it was a good option to provide a quick source of firefighting water once it became evident the dam they were using could run dry.
"Initially when it was found the big issue was the speed at which the RFS was using water for firefighting. This is for the water bombers. There are 30 different air units operating from here."
He said drilling rigs were being brought in and around Armidale as the search for potable water continued.
Supt Mepham said 930 sorties had been flown by fixed wing aircraft, and another 1.4 million litres of water used to mix up fire retardant.
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