Overview
Water for Goulburn - the Highlands Source Project.
The Highlands Source Project is the major water supply scheme for Goulburn developed through the Goulburn Mulwaree Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) strategy process which has a planning horizon to the year 2040. The project aims to provide drought security and to assist in ensuring that Goulburn doesn't have to face level 5 restrictions again, or the threat of running out of water or has to transport water to the City as proposed in 1983 and 2007.
The Highlands Source Project is an adaptation of an emergency Wingecarribee Pipeline option. Research shows it is the best means of serving Goulburn's long term water needs. Options to support the Highlands Source Project will also be considered in Council's ongoing IWCM.
In 2000 Council produced a comprehensive water strategy report. The options recognised then for a major enhancement of Goulburn's water supply included a pipeline to Wingecarribee Reservoir and a Pejar Dam pipeline.
Between 2002 and now, Goulburn has suffered a severe drought and a near failure of its water supply. This drought and the comprehensive new work undertaken in Council's IWCM strategy have substantiated the case for the link to the Sydney Catchment Authority's (SCA) Wingecarribee Reservoir. The impacts of this new record drought, new environmental flow requirements and climate change have greatly reduced the estimated yield of our dams. The estimate has has been revised from 4300 ML a year in 1998 down to only 1500 ML a year.
The benefits of this project are as follows:
· It is the only option that goes anywhere near making up the yield deficit to attain drought security for Goulburn.
· It taps into the more reliable SCA system and larger catchments that are in different and wetter climates, reducing the dependence on local rainfall.
· It allows environmental relief to the already stressed Wollondilly River.
· When compared to the other major water options for Goulburn, it is substantially more beneficial.
· The project sits well with re-use and demand management programs which will accommodate growth in Goulburn in accordance with the comprehensive IWCM.
Goulburn has been very fortunate in receiving funding from both the NSW Government and the Federal Government's Water Smart Australia program. The State and Federal Governments have committed a total of up to $40M ($20M each), which is 80 percent of the total estimated cost.
Council will contribute an estimated $10M, funded by an annual charge of $75 for residential properties connected to the Goulburn water supply. Council has undertaken substantial and credible work on a IWCM strategy, with $505,000 spent to date. There has been extensive community consultation and considerable technical investigations. In addition, the NSW Department of Commerce were engaged to carry out pipeline route investigations and estimates, costing approximately $250,000. The project must be completed before 30 June 2010. The planning stage of the project should commence in July 2008.
This website provides the following information. Much of it is complex and may need explanation. As the water strategy covers more than Goulburn's water, this site only touches on part of that work.
Presentations to MPs and Ministerial briefing
Cost Estimates and Investiagations
Contact details
Water Services
02 4823 4468 (ph)
02 4822 0977 (fax)
hsp@goulburn.nsw.gov.au
