Murrurundi has been on Level 6 water restrictions since July 2018, while Murrurundi Dam has now run dry.

With water no longer coming from the dam, water supplies are coming from an emergency water bore and are being trucked in from Scone.

Tender for the detailed design and construction of the 40-kilometre water pipeline from Scone to Murrurundi has been awarded to Leed Engineering and Construction.

Upper Hunter Shire Council came to the decision at a meeting on Thursday morning.

Due to the number of tanks and pump stations along the pipeline, council has met with affected property owners to establish access agreements and easement agreements on both private and crown land.

Upper Hunter Shire mayor Wayne Bedggood said the major project had been years in the making and it was with much relief that council could now get on with the construction.

“This pipeline will provide Murrurundi with a secure water source from Lake Glenbawn," he said.

The project is estimated to cost $14.2 million, with more than $13 million in funding provided by the NSW Government’s Restart NSW Water Security for Regions program and the remainder funded by council.

Leed Engineering and Construction plans to start the detailed planning phase immediately with construction scheduled to begin as soon as possible.

“We’re glad to be working with council and we will have the pipeline completed in 2020," Leed Engineering and Construction’s director Graeme Lawler said. 

Design works will now start on the development of the water reticulation at Parkville, Wingen and Blandford.