Managing water resources

President of the Local Government Association Cr Genia McCaffery today acknowledged the vital role NSW councils play in managing water resources in NSW. Cr McCaffery was speaking at the 2009 LGSA Water Management Conference in Deniliquin - a part of NSW hardest hit by the most recent drought. Cr McCaffery highlighted a number of councils that have done some extraordinary work in developing new technology to help adapt to reducing water supplies.

“Some recent awards have highlighted the innovation and forward thinking that is shining through in water management in this State,” she said. “Orange Council has received a Green Globe Award and a NSW Water Environment Award for their ground breaking Stormwater Harvesting Project at Blackmans Swamp Creek. In a first for Australia, Orange is harvesting stormwater for the city’s drinking water supply with a project that has international eyes focused on the Central West of NSW. Using a weir and treatment ponds to clean the water before it returns to their main water dam, the project isn’t just a major advance in technology, but also a remarkably successful exercise in public communication and education, with the community willingly accepting this water for their drinking supply.”

Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour councils also received praise, for working together on the Shannon Creek Dam project. “This massive project received both a NSW Water and an Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia Excellence Award in the process,” said Cr McCaffery. “With a major investment in infrastructure they have more than doubled the capacity of the Dam by raising its crest almost 10 meters, and have built other facilities like a 90 kilometer supply pipe and pump stations. They have also focused on better management practices and conservation strategies to make sure that the dam will deal with an increasing population well into the future. These two projects show us just how smart, how adaptive and how cost effective Local Government can be."