Water sharing between the Bogan and Cobar shires is at the crux of planning surrounding the Albert Priest Channel and potentially piping the water source.
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The Bogan Shire is currently conducting feasibility studies and consultation around the potential piping of the channel.
Channel users are concerned by the cost and outcomes of the potential piping of the channel.
User and landholder Tom Moxham said he believes the push for the piping of the channel is coming from Cobar Water.
“I believe this entire push to pipe the channel is being driven by Cobar Water.
“Nyngan has already started its plan to future water security by building storage dams and more are proposed,” he told The Nyngan Observer.
“This along with simple upgrading the channel would be the most efficient use of Nyngan’s resources and money.”
Cobar Shire’s director of engineering Stephen Taylor said there are no other water resources for the Shire. He explained how the water heads out west.
“Both Cobar and Nyngan and also the three mines in Cobar have water licenses that allow councils and the mines to use water out of Burrendong dam. The water is released from the dam into the Macquarie River,” he said.
“When the water reaches Warren it enters the Albert Priest Channel where it is transported to the Bogan River.
“The Bogan Shire owns and maintains the Albert Priest Channel with the Cobar Shire and three mines, through the Cobar Water Board paying a share of the cost of that maintenance.”
Mr Taylor said he’s not in a position to comment on the Albert Priest Channel changes as neither the shire or the Water Board have expressed opinions on these topics. He said there are no other sources that could supply the water quantities needed.
Channel user, farmer and local businessman Richard Bootle refutes this, believing Cobar could buy the water it needs.
“Cobar should fund their own water, they could buy the water they need for one tenth of the cost of the pipeline,” he told the Nyngan Observer last month.
At the moment the Cobar Water Board has four storage dams in Cobar with a capacity of 1,000 megalitres last updated in 2010, according to Mr Taylor.
“Cobar Water Board has also been involved in discussions and planning for the ‘off’ river storage in Nyngan,” he said.
Grace Ryan
Deputy Editor at the Central Western Daily, Orange. You'll mostly find me tinkering in social media and newsletters. Working hard to get our stories in front of your eyes.
Deputy Editor at the Central Western Daily, Orange. You'll mostly find me tinkering in social media and newsletters. Working hard to get our stories in front of your eyes.
