BATHURST Regional Council is hoping today will be the day it finds out if the city is any closer to having its primary water security projects put on the NSW Government's critical needs list.
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The state government introduced the Water Supply (Critical Needs) Bill in 2019 as a way to assist where critical infrastructure is needed by fast-tracking water security proposals, to ensure projects can get under way as soon as possible.
Council met with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment's Water Supply (Critical Needs) at Gateway group on Wednesday to discuss the various projects council has been working on.
General manager David Sherley said council wants its stormwater harvesting and Winburndale pipeline projects put on the list.
"We want them listed to speed up the process of getting the projects approved, given the water supply levels that are available," he said.
"At the same time we continue to talk to the state government about funding of those projects and to date, in terms of water security, the government has provided us with $10 million to start the funding for those projects.
"They have also provided us $2 million last year to assist in the planning processes and design elements of possible responses to improve water availability, and $2.25 million to go towards the dam wall strengthening works at Winburndale to ensure the security of that water supply."
Mr Sherley hopes to hear back on Friday as to "the next steps in the process about getting those two projects listed on the critical infrastructure act".
Council is hopeful of a favourable response.
"The indications that we've been receiving from the government to date, particularly in our discussions with the Minister, the local member, would indicate that favourable consideration would be given to our request, however due process must be followed," Mr Sherley said.
If council's projects are listed, it is not a guarantee that additional funding will be provided by the state government, but council is optimistic that it will be granted further financial assistance in the coming months.
Mr Sherley's comments come after councillors aired their frustrations on Wednesday night about how slow the process has moved.
Multiple councillors said Bathurst council had done all the work it could, but it was not being rewarded.
"The work that has been going on by this council ... is just above and beyond," Cr Warren Aubin said.
"From my take on it, we haven't been put on that critical list because we've done such a good job, we're so far ahead of everyone, they're saying 'You guys can wait'."
Following on from Cr Aubin, Cr Alex Christian said the city "is being punished for good water management".
"We're doing all the work here, so I don't understand why we're not being rewarded for it. It's basically the tick of the box and we go along the way," he said.
Deputy mayor Ian North said there is a lot at stake if council doesn't get the extra support from the NSW Government.
If Bathurst's projects aren't added to the list, he said councillors will need to make their frustrations known.
"I'm frustrated, because I can't see why we aren't on that list," Cr North said.
"... If we don't start getting answers, with respect Mr Mayor, we're all going to have to be jumping up and down - I know you're jumping up and down.
"We're not picking on Paul Toole or anything, but we need you to be extremely vocal, we need Paul to be extremely vocal and I know it's not really a federal issue as such, but our federal member needs to get very vocal, because this is a damn important region."
While council is prioritising stormwater harvesting and the Winburndale pipeline, these are not the only things council is working on to prolong the life of the city's water supply.
Council is working closely with irrigators, has applied for a reduction of the riparian flow, is advocating for the Regis pipeline, has made a further request for a water allocation from Oberon Dam, and is investigating medium to long term projects like reusing treated effluent.
