The Water Supply Security Project was initiated in December 2019 in response to the impact of the extensive drought throughout the year.

Read more: Dams hit capacity after rain brings welcome relief

Due to the short-term risks and situation regarding water storage levels and predicted rainfall at the time, the report outlined some projects which are underway to ensure a secure water supply.

The projects included investigation of a seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant, upgrade of the Wauchope Treatment Plant and recycled water to supplement the drinking water supply.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Infrastructure Planning group manager Cameron Hawkins said phase one of the upgrade to the Wauchope Treatment Plant started in June and involves the expansion of the existing plant.

The Wauchope Water Treatment Plant is located at Rosewood west of Wauchope and was constructed between 2005 and 2006.

The plant was designed with an ultimate capacity of 21 Mega Litres per day (ML/day).

However, it is currently has a capacity of 6 ML/day. The upgrade to increase the plant to a 21ML/day capacity is expected to take up to six months.

Mr Hawkins said phase two of the upgrade will allow the plant to increase its output capacity during times when the river water quality is not ideal.

"There's less reliance on other parts of the network," he said.

Mr Hawkins said this would be specifically a drought mitigation measure and would be implemented at a yet to be determined Total Combined Storage (TCS) trigger level.

The adopted TCS trigger will be set based on the construction duration and when the infrastructure would be required.

In addition, part of council's long term planning is to establish a water treatment plant at the Cowarra Dam to service the bulk network.

"So that Port Macquarie and the Camden Haven will become a filtered supply as well," Mr Hawkins said.

As part of the Water Supply Security Report groundwater was investigated as an alternative water supply within the region.

The objective of the project was to determine if there was a location which could provide a reliable supplement to the current water supply network in a drought scenario.

However, Mr Hawkins said there was insufficient evidence which supported a reliable groundwater source that would provide a sufficiently large, relatively clean and reliable water source.

"There's not the volume of water that we would need to make an impact on our supply and to make it viable," he said.

Mr Hawkins said the extraction of groundwater in the region was also found to have a negative impact on sensitive environmental areas, such as wetlands.

Read more: Port Macquarie-Hastings council pushes for resident access to recycled water

Meanwhile pipes are being laid along John Oxley Drive in the next stage of the Thrumster Recycled Water Mains scheme which is earmarked for completion in April 2021.

Mr Hawkins said the use of recycled water will take the pressure off the region's drinking water supply.

Pipeworks are also ready for the commencement of the Sancrox to Wauchope water mains project to be completed later this year.

New residences at Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills have also been built with a dual plumbing system.

Mr Hawkins said council is waiting on final approvals for improvements to the Bonny Hills plant infrastructure to ensure recycled water can be delivered to this location.

In February Port Macquarie-Hastings Councillors voted in favour of undertaking the feasibility and investigation works for a osmosis desalination plant.

However it was recommended at the May meeting the plant be put on hold until Councillors could be briefed in July on the financial impact and related issues surrounding the plant.

Mr Hawkins said council staff will be assessing the benefits of having a desalination plant against other methods to build water security for the future.

The intention of this project proceeding will be provided in a report to go before the August council meeting.

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