THE NSW Government will provide Upper Hunter Shire Council with $200,500 to help meet the costs incurred by council of new infrastructure required to maintain the town water supply at Murrurundi during February’s water supply emergency.
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Minister for Natural Resources, Lands and Water Kevin Humphries said the NSW Government would also provide $47,517 to meet the water carting costs incurred by council.
“In February the town on Murrurundi suffered a severe algae outbreak due to prolonged drought conditions that effectively crippled the town’s water supply,” he said.
“The algae outbreak greatly affected Murrurundi’s water supply, which is sourced by local creeks and is stored in an off-stream storage to maintain the town’s water supply when the creeks have low flows.
“Council was concerned about the potential health risks from the algae and alerted the community not to drink the water and provided bottled drinking water to the residents as a stop-gap measure.
“Council also constructed emergency works at significant costs to maintain the water supply and also commenced carting water from Scone to ensure a continued supply for Murrurundi during this period.
“This funding highlights the NSW Government’s commitment to ensuring communities across the state has access to a sustainable and secure water supply.”
Upper Hunter Shire mayor Michael Johnsen welcomed the NSW Government’s commitment to helping meet the costs borne by council during the water supply emergency.
“The extensive emergency provisions undertaken by council came at a significant cost and depleted funds that were set aside for future water improvements,” Cr Johnsen said.
“This funding from the NSW Government will be of great assistance to council in enabling us to undertake further water infrastructure works in the future.”