Gulgong Parks Irrigation Scheme
Mid-Western Regional Council
Funding:$900,000
About the project
This project is to construct a parks irrigation scheme at Gulgong, NSW which will provide a 'fit for purpose' alternative water supply and reduce potable water consumption.
Open spaces at Gulgong are presently irrigated with potable water sourced from the Cudgegong River, a major tributary of the Macquarie River and located in the upper reaches of the Murray-Darling Basin. It is proposed to utilise existing bores and existing water licences for irrigation of open spaces, including Council's parks and sporting fields.
A telemetry and SCADA system for remote operation of the scheme to enable automatic irrigation systems to be shut down when rain is forecast to achieve a reduction in annual irrigation water consumption will also be installed. Soil moisture monitors will be installed to ensure open spaces are not over irrigated.
Project benefits
Potable water consumption at Gulgong will be reduced by up to 80 ML per year, replaced with an estimated 60 ML per year of 'fit-for-purpose' bore water. This represents an estimated 20% reduction in water presently being sourced from the Cudgegong River.
Gulgong is expected to grow by about 6% over the next 25 years due to significant recent and proposed mining development. The proposed project will therefore ensure that future potable water requirements for Gulgong can be accommodated using existing water allocations and water supply infrastructure.
Further information
Further information on this project may be obtained by contacting the Mid-Western Regional Council directly on 1300 765 002.
The Strengthening Basin Communities program is funded by the Australian Government's Water for the Future initiative.