Water security boost in the pipeline for Hunter

The Lostock to Glennies pipeline is making great progress after the contract was awarded to develop the concept design and engineering for the project as part of the Final Business Case.

Water Infrastructure NSW Executive Director Development Lisa Hingerty said it was an exciting milestone bringing the Upper Hunter one step closer to benefitting from increased water security which will put the region on the front foot when the next drought comes.

“The Lostock Dam to Glennies Creek Dam Pipeline project is about creating a sustainable water future for residents, farmers and businesses by boosting water reliability and connectivity in the Upper Hunter catchment,” Ms Hingerty said.

“It will increase water reliability, make better use of existing water infrastructure, and improve supply to agriculture, industries and towns.

“More importantly, it will give the region greater flexibility to deliver water where it’s needed most, particularly during future droughts, reducing the demand on the nearby Glenbawn Dam.”

Ms Hingerty said it was great to see the Final Business Case taking shape because developing concept designs allows for a more detailed evaluation of options which will enable the government to make an informed investment decision.

“The next phase of this project will include a range of environmental, ecological, and cultural heritage studies along with geotechnical investigations which will help the engineers work out the best way forward,” Ms Hingerty said.

“It’s so important that we continue planning and progressing water security projects like this even as the Hunter faces ongoing flood events, to ensure the region is better prepared for the next drought.”

The successful tenderer for concept design is GHD Engineering.

Hunter Water Managing Director Darren Cleary said it would work with Water Infrastructure NSW on the Final Business Case to investigate options to extract water from the Paterson River, released by Lostock Dam for supply into Hunter Water’s drinking water network.

“The proposal would involve a water supply pump station near Paterson River and a new water treatment plant and pipeline to connect to the Maitland region,” Mr Cleary said.

“This infrastructure would help diversify and improve the resilience of the Hunter’s drinking water supply and strengthen our water future, by making better use of existing dams.”

The Final Business Case for the project is expected to be completed in early 2024.