The NSW Government is shoring up water security for the Lower Hunter with planning approval granted for a new desalination plant in Belmont providing an enduring supply of water for the Lower Hunter.
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Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey, said the Hunter was one of the regional areas which was hit hard during the last drought.
"Regional communities endured the worst drought on recent record and we are working to better drought-proof our communities," Mrs Pavey said.
"The Lower Hunter's storages are relatively small and shallow, resulting in water levels dropping quickly. In a severe drought, water storages can drop from typical operating levels to 15 per cent in less than three years."
Hunter Water welcomed the announcement for the plant which would produce up to 30 million litres a day of drinking water in response to drought.
Hunter Water Managing Director, Darren Cleary, said the approval provides an additional source of safe and reliable drinking water for the region in the event of a severe drought.
"Desalination is one of only a few water supply options that is rainfall independent, helping us to continue to support our customers and communities regardless of changes in weather or climate," he said.
"The Lower Hunter community gained a sense of what a prolonged and severe drought would be like when we all experienced the most recent drought through 2019-2020, which saw the introduction of water restrictions for the first time in many decades," said Mr Cleary.
The plant is a key action from the 2014 Lower Hunter Water Plan to help secure water supply during drought, alongside conservation measures including reducing leakages, using groundwater from the Tomago Sandbeds, and water transfers between regions.
Mr Cleary, said the planning approval provides the Lower Hunter with certainty should an additional source of water be needed during drought.
"With assessment of this important project now complete, the plant's detailed design and construction can begin for when it's needed," Mr Cleary said.
"The approval ensures Hunter Water is able to build a new desalination plant to deliver up to 30 million litres of drinking water each day, during severe drought conditions."
More extensive actions on water conservation will be outlined in the draft Lower Hunter Water Security Plan, which will be released for public comment in August 2021.
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