Regis wants to buy between eight and 10 megalitres of treated effluent a day to operate the new McPhillamys Gold Mine planned for Kings Plains. That’s equivalent to the daily output from the Waste Water Treatment Works into the Macquarie River and such a deal would heavily affect downstream users.

It would also raise the ire of local conservationists and potentially leave Bathurst vulnerable in times of low rainfall.

The region proudly advertises the fact that our secure water storage means we have never had water restrictions imposed on residents, even in the depths of drought.

We wonder if that proud record might be threatened by a deal with Regis.

On the other hand, the McPhillamys mine represents a huge investment in the region and hundreds of new jobs. But a mine can’t operate without water and council would be left in an invidious position if the future of McPhillamys rested on council’s decision.

Selling our affluent effluent would also be a boost to Bathurst’s coffers at a time when the finances of all councils are under closer scrutiny than ever. A 10-year deal with Regis – and a 10-year option – would provide the sort of guaranteed income that puts a smile on the city treasurer’s dial.

First, though, council wants to know what the community thinks.

Councillors are tonight expected to approve a month-long community feedback campaign to gauge local sentiment.

We can save them the trouble, though: expect objections to the effluent sale to outnumber support by a factor of around nine-to-one.

Bathurst residents have seen the difficulties Orange City Council’s water deal with Cadia has caused over the years and will not rush to have those problems replicated here.

And the potential of 10 years of prosperity pales when compared with the centuries of damage such a deal could do to the environment.

Regis needs water, but it would be a real surprise to see Bathurst provide it.

In a modern world, water is more precious than gold.