Delivering a healthy working Basin for Australia: Water for the Future Local Story
Young, New South Wales
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, 2011
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Program: Strengthening Basin Communities
Funding recipient: Young Shire Council
Water for the Future funding: $1,551,000
Project commencement: March 2010
Project completion: April 2012
Young, on the south west slopes of NSW is home to some of Australia's best cool climate wines and is known as the cherry capital of Australia. Like many communities across the Basin, Young has weathered years of drought and as a result is dealing with the challenges of future water security and a changing climate.
In 2010, Young Shire Council received substantial funding through the Australian Government’s Strengthening Basin Communities program to help address the town’s water management challenges.
Imhoff tank and trickling filter bed, Young
Peter Vlatko, General Manager of Young Shire Council, said the Strengthening Basin Communities grant will go towards water savings infrastructure to help the local community reduce its demand on potable supplies.
“The reuse scheme will use treated effluent to water Young’s municipal parks, gardens, cemetery and sporting fields,” Peter said.
“These facilities are central to the social wellbeing of Young and it’s important to ensure the community can continue to enjoy these outdoor areas.”
Significant pipelines will be laid to deliver water to local community facilities along with pumping and electricity, water filtering and installing a reservoir at each site.
The project is in its initial stage of local planning and authorisation to meet the town’s requirements. Stage two is the design element.
Construction of the pipeline network, and associated infrastructure, will then be tendered, with site works anticipated to start in November 2011.
“Benefits will include reduced demand for potable water, reduced nutrient loads discharged to natural waterways and an improvement of the town’s facilities,” added Peter.
“The ability to keep parks and sporting fields green without impacting on our usual water supply will make a big difference to our town.”
The project is scheduled for completion in April 2012.
Governments at all levels are working with Basin communities to achieve a healthy river system that supports strong and viable communities. Central to this is the strengthened involvement of local communities in the design and roll out of government programs.
The Australian Government is also committed to ‘bridging the gap’ between current water diversions and any final sustainable diversion limits in the Murray–Darling Basin Plan, through water savings generated by infrastructure investments and voluntary water purchases.
Anderson Park, Young
Cranfield Oval, Young
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