WaterNSW has released its preferred option for the proposed Lake Rowlands to Carcoar Dam pipeline, with the two-way system confirmed to allow for more efficient storage of the available water resources.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The pipeline route has been released as part of the final business case being prepared for WaterNSW by the environmental and engineering consultancy GHD.
The preferred option has the pipeline running adjacent to the current line between the lake and the water treatment plant along the Eastern boundary of Mount Macquarie, before diverting left after approximately four kilometres to Carcoar Dam.
There are two versions of this preferred route, one with the two-way pipeline simply going over the lower parts of Mount Macquarie to Carcoar Dam, the other having a pipeline which follows the same route, but partially tunnelled straight through the mount.
Due to physical distancing restrictions the proposals were put on display during a video summit.
A review of environmental factors (REF) is due to be completed by WaterNSW in mid-2020, with a final business case due at the end of the year.
Lake Rowlands is operated by Central Tablelands Water (CTW) which supplies water to Woodstock, Canowindra and Grenfell as well as other centres.
CTW Chairman David Somervaille said that the tunnel concept would have an operational advantage.
"If they tunnel it, it means that the level of the pipeline will be much lower so the water pressure doesn't get so high during pumping," he said.
A surprising part of the plan is that this diversion to Carcoar Dam could become a new two-way pipeline to Blayney's water treatment plant.
"The study is looking into it joining the existing raw water pipeline from Lake Rowlands to the water treatment plant where it would undergo treatment and filtration before being distributed throughout the network," Mr Somervaille said.
