BATHURST Regional Council will seek to compulsorily acquire a tract of Crown land beside the Macquarie River as it continues its planning for a stormwater harvesting system.
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Council has received $5 million in state government drought relief funding to develop the scheme that will capture stormwater runoff in urban areas in a series of catchment ponds.
The water will then be piped to the Macquarie River to be treated and used to supplement the town water supply.
A report to Wednesday night's council meeting by engineering services director Darren Sturgiss recommends council apply to compulsorily acquire a section of Crown land on the banks of the Macquarie River along River Road, Kelso to allow an easement for water supply.
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"Council will be aware of the planned stormwater harvesting scheme to assist in addressing Bathurst's critical water supply security," the report states.
"The project will involve the construction of a pipeline with part of the proposed route traversing land within the banks of the Macquarie River ...
"The bed and banks of the Macquarie River are a Crown waterway, therefore approval for construction within the river and the establishment of an easement to protect the pipeline will need to be sought from NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
"Due to the impact this will have on water security for the Bathurst region, this matter needs to be resolved and finalised as soon as possible."
Mr Sturgiss advises that the acquisition will be completed under the Just Terms Compensation Act but the report to Wednesday's meeting has no details on how much council will be required to pay for the land.
"[But] this amount has been provided for in the current year's budget," the report states.
The other major drought relief project council is working on is strengthening the Winburndale Dam wall and upgrading the pipeline, with construction on this well under way.