The reservoir will be built on land on the Limekilns Road, which has been purchased by Bathurst Regional Council. 

Bathurst mayor Gary Rush said 6.5km of pipe work will be the first stage for the transfer and delivery network.

A new pump station will be used to deliver the water from an existing reservoir to the new reservoir where it will be gravity-fed to residential areas. 

Cr Rush said initial work on the site will include the removal of pine trees around the proposed pump station and site establishment at the new reservoir site. 

He said construction is scheduled to take 54 weeks and will be undertaken by local contractor EODO Pty Ltd. 

EODO also carried out the work on the manganese removal project and, in 1980, did the first upgrade of Bathurst’s Sewerage Treatment Plant. 

“This reservoir will be a significant addition to the infrastructure of Bathurst which will cater for expected growth into the future,” Cr Rush said.

“It is also great to see this important contract has been awarded to a local organisation.

“This once again showcases the progressiveness of Bathurst in the quality of resources available to us,” Cr Rush said.

He said the new reservoir will provide water to cater for the expected increase in population of 10,000 over the next couple of decades which makes it a necessary addition to the city’s infrastructure. 

“We should be pleased we are in a financial position to cater for population growth and expected economic development,” Cr Rush said.

Acting manager of Water and Waste Nick Lavoipierre said he is hopeful the project will be completed around midway through next year. 

“Bathurst is growing and the last reservoir council built was in the 1990s in Marsden Lane,” Cr Rush said.

EODO director Bruce Goddard said the company was pleased to be working with Bathurst Regional Council. “We have been here since 1975 and hopefully will remain here for many years to come,” he said.

Mr Goddard said around 30 people will be working on the project over the next 12 months. 

Pipes from the new reservoir will run to subdivisions in Marsden Lane, Laffing Waters and new, yet to be developed estates in Kelso.