The NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, has announced the completion of three Cap and Pipe the Bores schemes in the state’s north-west, providing a combined savings of 1,400 ML of water annually.

 

Twenty landholders participated from the Goodooga, Burren Junction and Walgett areas.

 

“Replacing the free flowing artesian bores and bore drains with efficient piped systems, ensures landholders receive a clean, reliable stock and domestic water supply,”  Ms Hodgkinson said.

 

“The well-designed piped systems will prevent water being lost through evaporation and seepage as previously experienced with the open earth drains.”

 

Ms Hodgkinson said as well as saving water, the schemes will stop around 1,300 tonnes per year of salt from entering the Murray-Darling River system.

 

The construction of the schemes has supplied and installed a combined total of 323 km of pipeline, four new bores, 212 tanks and 480 troughs.

 

“The landholders will benefit from the schemes through improved water use efficiency, and opportunities for more sustainable land and stock management practices.”

 

“Capping and piping these artesian bores also assists the recovery of artesian pressure in the Great Artesian Basin.”

 

“In addition, the new piped schemes will help prevent pests, weeds and land degradation.”

 

The program has been jointly funded by the NSW and Australian Governments, through the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative (GABSI).

 

“This valuable work will help protect and restore the Great Artesian Basin for future generations,” said Ms Hodgkinson.

 

 “This infrastructure investment is a great benefit to many landholders and the environment across a vast area of north-western NSW,” Mr Humphries said.

 

“As well as saving water, the capping and piping of these bores will restore artesian pressure and stop large volumes of salt from entering the Murray-Darling Basin system.”

 

Additional information regarding the Cap & Pipe the Bores Program is available on the NSW Office of Water website: www.water.nsw.gov.au