Belubula Water Security Project

About the project

The proposed Belubula Water Security Project aims to improve water availability and increased drought resilience for residents, businesses, and the environment across the Belubula Valley.

To achieve these aims, the project was rescoped to better meet the water needs and address the unique challenges in the region.

The department’s Water Group is investigating options aligned with the Lachlan Regional Water Strategy and the Macquarie-Castlereagh Regional Water Strategy. These 4 options include:

• a new pipeline between Lake Rowlands Dam and Carcoar Dam to transfer up to 2 gigalitres of water per year, capturing spills and boosting supply
• raising the Lake Rowlands Dam wall to increase storage from 4.5 gigalitres to 8 gigalitres
• building a new dam 2.5 kilometres downstream of Lake Rowlands
• connecting the Belubula and Macquarie valleys through an interregional pipeline.

The department is working with WaterNSW and Central Tablelands Water on this project.

Project location

The Belubula Valley is part of the Lachlan catchment in central west NSW, within the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people.

The Belubula River rises midway between Orange and Bathurst flowing south and west through the towns of Blayney, Carcoar and Canowindra.

Project need

The Belubula Valley has relatively limited storage capacity in Lake Rowlands Dam. The dam fills quickly and frequently overflows, in part due to its limited size and highly variable rainfall. Inefficient water storage and unreliable access to water contribute to making the catchment very sensitive to droughts. This lack of water security creates uncertainties for business and may impact economic development.

Project funding

The NSW and Australian Governments are jointly funding $7.7 million to develop a full business case for the project, with the Australian Government contributing through the National Water Grid Fund.

Project status

The project is in planning stage. A full business case is required to further refine the project scope, benefits and cost, regulatory pathway and its benefits.

The department’s Water Group will lead this analysis and integrate stakeholder consultation to ensure preferred options are identified and progressed.

The outcomes of these studies and consultations will be included in the Full Business Case, which will guide future funding decisions by the NSW and Australian Governments.

The Full Business Case is expected to be finalised in 2026.

Stakeholder engagement

The department’s Water Group is committed to building and maintaining respectful, trusted and collaborative relationships with our communities and stakeholders to ensure water infrastructure projects achieve the best possible outcomes.

We will be offering opportunities for communities and stakeholders, including First Nations communities, to engage with us and provide feedback as we develop the final business case for the project.

Upcoming engagement opportunities will be highlighted on this project webpage and on the Water Group’s have your say page.

Upcoming engagement opportunities

Community members are invited to attend a drop-in information session or a webinar in March to learn more about the project, ask any questions or provide feedback to the project team.

Timeline