Cowarra Water Supply Scheme

Construction of a new water treatment plant (WTP), just south of Cowarra Dam.

In conjunction, we will construct a clear water reservoir and northern arm trunk main from the reservoir to the water distribution systems of Sancrox, Thrumster and Port Macquarie.

We are also continuing the construction of the southern arm trunk main along Houston Mitchell Drive to directly connect to the Camden Haven water distribution system.

This project aims to:

• Increase water supply to address future demand
• Enhance water security during low and high rain events
• Optimise network storage and connectivity by creating a water supply ring main
• Upgrade the water supply system to ensure reliable delivery of water to the community
• Provide multiple barrier treatment to improve water quality
• Improve reliability, redundancy, and resilience of our regions water supply infrastructure.

The initial project scoping, study and option evaluation have been completed.

The remaining project milestones are:

*Timeline is subject to change.

Site investigations and design for the Cowarra Water Supply Scheme - Northern Arm Trunk Main:

 As part of design investigation for the Cowarra Water Supply Scheme, Council is now undertaking site investigations, including: service locating, surveying and geotechnical testing adjacent to the following streets; Burrawan Forest Drive, Oxley Highway (from Burrawan Forest Drive to John Oxley Drive), John Oxley Drive, Philip Charley Drive, The Ruins Way, Major Innes Road, Braeroy Drive, Kyla Crescent, Emmaus Court, Colonel Barney Drive, Greenmeadows Drive, Ocean Drive. Additionally, these investigations will also be conducted to the rear of properties in the following streets: Lewin Court, Annabella Drive, Blackwood Street, Redgum Circuit, Macleay Place, Currawong Drive, Coucal Close, Caitlin Darcy Parkway, The Sanctuary Close. Please refer to the areas shown in the overview map here(PNG, 34MB). 

We have engaged Tonkin Engineering to carry out the site investigations, planning and design work on behalf of Council. Site investigation works are expected to commence late May to early June 2024 and will continue through to late 2024. 

Port Macquarie Hastings Council is committed to genuine consultation about this project with the local community and other stakeholders.

Prior to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) phase of the project we:

• Engaged with key stakeholders such as Forestry Corporation NSW, Hastings Valley Motorcycle Club and Port Macquarie Cycling Club
• Engaged with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI), and the NSW Environment Protection Agency
• Liaised with Birpai and Bunyah Local Aboriginal Land Councils.

During the EIS preparation we:

• Had a free-call 1800 066 243 and project email address contact@ghd.com for you to contact us on.
• Held community drop-in sessions for both the Cowarra water supply scheme and the associated Thrumster wastewater scheme

Past community sessions

• 10 & 11 October 2023 (2 drop-in sessions)
• 4 April 2024 (1 industry briefing)
• 23 May 2024 (2 drop-in sessions)
• 11 July 2024 (1 pop-up session)
• 15 July 2024 (1 pop-up session)
• 16 July 2024 (2 drop-in sessions)
• 17 July 2024 (1 pop-up session)

Feedback collected during the EIS has been considered by the project team and feedback relating to project refinements will be passed on to the project directors. We thank you in advance for taking the time to help improve the project.

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) assesses the project’s potential environmental impacts and outlines how Port Macquarie Hastings Council will manage them. 

The EIS submission to NSW Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure includes documents with over a total of 1,900 pages.

To help you navigate the EIS we have prepared a summary brochure(PDF, 12MB) which summarises the EIS for the Cowarra Water Supply Scheme and contains an easy-to-use reference guide.

Current status

• Exhibition closed on 30 July 2024
• Responses to submission are being prepared

All submissions received by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure during the exhibition of the proposal are available on the Department's website at: planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/cowarra-water-supply-scheme 

We regularly seek businesses to work with us through:

• Expressions of Interest (EOI)
• Requests for Quotations (RFQ)
• Requests for Tenders (RFT)

Information about these opportunities, and how to apply is provided through our online procurement portal, eProcure.  

For updates relating to current and upcoming opportunities please refer to the website here.

Water Treatment Plant (WTP)

The new WTP designed to treat 42 mega litres (ML) per day, or 6,000 to 9,900ML annually and provide a safe and secure drinking water supply to the Port Macquarie and Camden-Haven areas. The existing 7.8ML Cowarra balance tank would be repurposed. This raw water tank would receive raw water from Cowarra Dam, Port Macquarie Dam or the Hastings River, where it would gravitate through the treatment process in a relatively consistent flow and provide a buffer to the different raw water transfer flow into the tank.

Clear Water Reservoir (CWR)

The CWR serves as a filtered water storage tank for the water supply system as a whole. The CWR site is about 1.5 kilometres away from the WTP site along the Cowarra Access Road from the WTP site and Cowarra Dam. The access road will require upgrading.

What is the Northern Arm Tunk Main (NATM)?

The NATM pipeline is part of the Cowarra Water Supply Scheme, designed to deliver treated drinking water from the Cowarra Water Treatment Plant to Thrumster and Port Macquarie. This gravity-fed pipeline will run approximately 16.5 km from Cowarra Access Road to the Port Macquarie Reservoirs, primarily within existing road reserves along Burrawan Forest Drive, the Oxley Highway, and several local roads, as well as utility easements. An easement will be maintained on either side of the pipeline.

Staged Approach

 The project will be divided into 3 main stages:

• Stage 1: construction of 6.5kms of pipeline involving open trenching methods and an aqueduct along Burrawan Forest Drive

• Stage 2: construction of 2.5km of pipeline involving open trenching and horizontal directional drilling along Oxley Highway and under the Pacific Highway

• Stage 3: construction of 7.5km of pipeline involving open trenching and horizontal directional drilling along John Oxley Dr and over to Greenmeadows Dr

Interactive Map

Use this interactive map to review the location of the proposed Northern Arm Trunk Main (NATM) pipeline.

Click here

Frequently Asked Questions

• When are the Stage 1 NATM works scheduled? The stage 1 construction works along Burrawan Forest Drive are expected to commence from mid 2025. Closer to this time, adjoining residents will be updated with more specific timing for the site works.

• What are the hours of work? Most construction activities will occur within standard hours:
  • Monday to Friday: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm
  • Saturday: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
  • No work on Sundays or public holidays
  • In exceptional cases, some activities may take place outside these hours, subject to consultation with nearby residents and obtaining a permit.

• Will construction of the NATM pipeline damage the road? Whenever possible, the pipeline will be installed in existing road verges. In some cases, cutting and trenching of the road may be necessary, and the road will be reinstated after the pipe has been installed.

• How will this affect traffic? Traffic management plans will be implemented during pipeline construction to minimise impacts on traffic flow and access. Road width may be restricted near the work zone, and reduced speed limits will be enforced and adjusted as the project progresses. Due to the proximity of the works to the road, it is anticipated that the road width may be reduced through the work zone. Speed restrictions will typically be enforced near work zones and will be adjusted as the project advances.

• Will this project connect any residents along Burrawan Forest Drive to town water? This project will not connect residents on private water supplies, such as those on Burrawan Forest Drive, to the town water network. The new trunk main is for high-pressure distribution to reservoirs and is not suitable for direct supply to homes. Existing water supply arrangements for residents along the Burrawan Forest Drive will remain unchanged.

• What is open trenching? Open trenching in pipeline construction involves excavating a trench in the ground to install pipes, this may require trenching support to be put in place to protect the trench from collapsing.

• What is an aqueduct? An aqueduct is a structure designed to convey water over obstacles such as creeks or valleys, in pipeline construction this is typically in the form of a raised pipe.

• What is the BC Act? The Biodiversity Conservation (BC) Act focuses on protecting and managing biodiversity in New South Wales, including threatened species, populations, ecological communities, and their habitats.

• What is the EPBC Act? The Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act is a federal law that protects matters of national environmental significance, including threatened species, ecological communities, and significant environmental impacts from development.

• Will vegetation be cleared for the pipeline? The pipeline will mostly be installed in existing road verges and cleared easements. Where clearing is required, a biodiversity assessment was conducted, confirming that the native vegetation is not classified as a threatened ecological community under the BC Act or EPBC Act.

• What environmental protection measures are being planned? Potential ecological impacts will be minimised through the following measures:
  • Limiting vegetation clearance and controlling erosion and sediment.
  • An environmental management plan will require all workers to undergo an induction covering the site’s ecological values, biodiversity protection measures, and penalties for breaches before starting work.