JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
The Australian Government is providing a further $22.3 million for the development of business cases for eight water infrastructure projects that will help secure Australia’s water future.
New South Wales Senator Perin Davey welcomed the investment in the Lostock Dam to Glennies Creek Dam two-way pipeline project, which aims to connect two headwater water storages, Lostock Dam and Glennies Creek Dam, and would form part of the Hunter Valley’s bulk water supply network.
“This funding commitment is great news for local communities, agricultural water users and the construction industry,” Senator Davey said.
“This commitment shows the Australian Government’s investment framework in action, driving future investment decisions in nationally significant water infrastructure projects, including those that will directly benefit the Hunter Region.
“The staged development of business cases, like the ones we are investing in through the 2021–22 Budget, will provide a wealth of information and investigative analysis to support future decisions on moving these projects into construction.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said these business cases will inform more investment in new water infrastructure as part of the National Water Grid investment pipeline.
“We have already committed more than $1.5 billion to over 20 water infrastructure projects with a total construction value in excess of $2.6 billion,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“Of these, eight have already been completed.
“The Australian Government is delivering the water infrastructure that forms the National Water Grid as part of our $3.5 billion investment to secure Australia’s water future.
“By investing in business cases we are demonstrating our commitment to supporting Australia’s regional economies over the long term and strengthening our 10-year rolling program of priority water infrastructure investments.
“The development of robust business cases is an important step to support and inform evidence-based investment decisions, as we look to identify and build the dams, weirs, pipelines, water recycling plants and other projects that will form the National Water Grid.
“Good planning leads to good delivery.”
Nationally, the new business cases being funded are:
1. Lostock Dam to Glennies Creek Dam Pipeline in New South Wales;
2. Nyngan to Cobar Pipeline in New South Wales;
3. Pakenham Cora Lynn Recycled Water Scheme for Agriculture in Victoria;
4. Coliban Regional Modernisation in Victoria;
5. Sunbury-Bulla-Keilor Agricultural Rejuvenation in Victoria;
6. Tyabb-Sommerville Recycled Water Irrigation Scheme in Victoria;
7. New Water Infrastructure to the Barossa in South Australia; and
8. Tasmania’s South East Integration Project.
For further information, visit www.nationalwatergrid.gov.au.