Cabonne Council and Central Tablelands Water have welcomed news the NSW Government will fund repairs to sewer pumping stations and water services damaged in the 2022 flood event.
Critical infrastructure destroyed in November 2022 did not meet disaster relief funding criteria, leaving our shire along with other local government organisations lobbying through State MP Philip Donato for support.
The good news finally came with $27 million for restoration of central west water and sewer infrastructure in the 2025-2026 State budget handed down on Tuesday 24 June.
Cabonne Shire Council will receive $300,000 for repairs they had to make to damaged sewer pump stations, Central Tablelands Water $300,000 for repairs to water services.
Regionally, a major focus of the funding is the $22.9 million rebuild of the Lake Endeavour water pipeline in Parkes Shire, repairs to infrastructure at Lake Cargelligo have also been funded.
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Mayor Kevin Beatty and Central Tablelands Water chairperson Cr Andrew Rawson were among those who on Tuesday welcomed Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin to the region and thanked her as well as Mr Donato for their work to get this funding.
“In Cabonne on the night and early morning of the floods in November 2022 we had staff out trying to put people back into some level of normality with potable water,” Cr Rawson said.
“This funding now I think also recognises the impact that that sort of event has on the people on the ground, including the staff who were out there.”
The broader work of flood recovery continues and Cr Beatty with general manager Brad Byrnes has also met with Minister for Emergency Management and Regional Development Kristy McBain to talk about the roll-out of the resilient homes package and further needs from the region.
“The biggest point - and we’ve raised this from day one really – is a resilient land package, especially for Eugowra,” Cr Beatty said.
“If people are offered buybacks, which they are going to be, where do they go to live? We need somewhere for them to live."
On Tuesday, Minister Saffin said she was well aware of Cabonne’s vision for a resilient land package and extended a level of assurance to the community.
“Without going into detail, Phil (Donato) and I are still on the case,” Minister Saffin said.
