Deputy Premier and Leader of the NSW Nationals Andrew Stoner told the 2014 NSW Nationals Annual General Conference last week the State Government is committed to delivering the Needles Dam.

Mr Cobb has been planning this proposal for more than a year, launching a concerted campaign for funding for the Needles Dam project earlier this year.

The Needles Gap Dam catchment is to be located across the Council areas of Blayney, Cabonne and Cowra Shires and the main body of water will be in the Bathurst Electorate, just north of Cowra and on its shire boundary.

“This isn’t just great news for the communities and businesses that will directly benefit from this 90,000ML water storage facility,” Mr Cobb said.

“I believe this project will lift the spirits of the central west and will inspire all of regional Australia.

“This announcement tells regional Australia it does have a positive future.”

Mr Cobb paid tribute to Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner for his vision and determination to see the Needles Dam come to fruition, and looks forward to further details being released when the State Budget is handed down on Tuesday.

“Andrew Stoner has shown himself to be a leader in regional Australia with the guts needed to deliver the Needles Dam and I strongly commend him for that,” Mr Cobb said.

“If more funding is required to complete the most important project in western NSW in the last 50 years, then I will work hard to ensure the Federal Government steps up.

This will be the first new dam built in New South Wales since 1987.