Council backs new pipeline
Orange City Council has endorsed the latest milestone towards building the proposed new $27.6 million Orange to Carcoar water pipeline.
Last night’s (7 June) council meeting considered the 134-page Review of Environmental Factors (REF) report by environment consultants Geolyse which was on public exhibition earlier this year for community comment. This independent environmental assessment found the pipeline “is unlikely to result in a significant adverse environmental impact.”
There were thirteen submissions received during the exhibition period which were examined in a report to last night’s meeting.
The community submissions raised a number of issues including potential impacts of the pipeline on:
- groundwater
- swampy meadows along the pipeline route
- the capacity of existing water supplies
- the terrestrial environment.
The REF found that the potential for adverse impacts was primarily restricted to the construction phase.
The council meeting also endorsed the proposed review of sections of the pipeline to avoid potential impacts on swampy meadows.
“It’s important to listen to the views and insights of the community. Because of the thoughtful comments that have come in, the engineers will having a close look at the proposed pipeline route to minimise environmental impacts,” Cr John Davis said.
The proposed project is a 61-kilometre, two-way underground pipeline to carry potable water between Orange and Carcoar, via Spring Hill, Millthorpe and Blayney. It is proposed that most of the pipeline would be built in road corridors, with only small sections in private agricultural land.
The project has received $21.21 million in funding from the NSW Government’s Restart NSW Water Security for Regions program, and is being delivered by Orange City Council and Central Tablelands Water.
Consultation has concluded
