Work on a major groundwater expansion effort is ramping up as construction continues on a pipeline network that will boost Dubbo's water security in the event of another drought.
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Member for Dubbo, Dugald Saunders and Dubbo Mayor Ben Shields were both in attendance at the current construction side on open ground near the Dubbo Cycle Club facility on River Street on Friday to assess progress on the construction effort.
"Contractors have been on site for a couple of weeks now, working to deliver this pipeline that will run from Dubbo's main effluent area right down through Yarrandale road, through the cycle track and to Dubbo's water treatment plant," Mr Saunders said.
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At present, five kilometres of pipeline have been constructed, with 12km more still waiting to be installed.
The construction effort is part of the $30 million dollar grant given to Dubbo Regional Council by the state government in the last few years to address the danger of water scarcity.
Once constructed, the pipeline will channel effluent water to the Dubbo Water Treatment plant where it will then be tested and cleansed with chlorine and UV treatments in order to make it suitable for usage in maintaining Dubbo's grounds and greens.
Mayor Shields said that council was 'proud' to be involved in the project, and that planning is also underway for a number of efficiency measures.
"We know from the previous drought that we had a lot of water that could have been used effectively going to waste," Mr Shields said.
"With this pipeline, we will be effectively able to drought-proof a lot of areas throughout Dubbo, including our parks and gardens and a lot of this water will go towards Taronga Western Plains Zoo as well."
"We are moving out of the drought now, there's no doubt about that, but we need to make sure that when the next drought comes around, we aren't anywhere near as susceptible to the harshness of it."
