State water bodies have presented their case for piping the Albert Priest Channel and the Bogan Shire Council are cautious.
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A representative of state water, the department of primary industries and other government bodies along with Mike Brearley of Mike Brearley and Associates presented to the council in an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday last week.
The council was presented the positives of piping the channel and the guaranteed water security for both Nyngan and Cobar.
Councillors have resolved to write to the Deputy Premier with their concerns.
General manager Derek Francis said the council are cautious in their support for the potential pipeline.
[The] council has not yet been able to adequately consult with our community on the implications of the proposed pipeline for our water users, specifically what the impact on water charges/rates would be, as these are not yet known or understood.
- Derek Francis.
“[The] Bogan Shire Council recognises the importance of water security and regional development for our Shire and the Cobar Shire,” he told The Nyngan Observer.
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“However, with regard to the proposed construction of a pipeline to replace the Albert Priest Channel, [the] council has adopted a cautious approach to supporting the construction of a pipeline and has, so far, not been in a position to provide support in principle for the project.
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Mr Francis said the council are concerned they haven’t been able to consult with the community properly.
“This is because, with new and compressed time frames resulting from grant funding deadlines. [The] council has not yet been able to adequately consult with our community on the implications of the proposed pipeline for our water users, specifically what the impact on water charges/rates would be, as these are not yet known or understood,” he said.
The council have long believed a channel pipeline (which could cost in excess of $11 million) is unnecessary and more off river storage would provide water security to both Nyngan and Cobar.