Port Macquarie-Hastings Council continues long-term water security planning

The total combined storage in our dams reached 100 per cent at the end of June.

A report to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council's August meeting said while the local government area was still classified as drought affected, the pressure had been taken off town water supplies.

There is a 70 per cent chance the Mid-North Coast is in for a drenching this spring with the Bureau of Meteorology raising the possibility of a La Nina event to alert level for the east coast.

But long-term water security planning remains important.

The council report said work continued on the Wauchope Water Treatment Plant upgrade to ensure the council could quickly respond should drought return.

Meanwhile, a study concluded groundwater sources are not reliable in drought situations and are unlikely to provide the volumes of water required to supplement the bulk supply or act as an emergency supply.

Another component of the water supply security project was feasibility investigations for a seawater desalination plant.

The capital costs for a 15 megalitre a day desalination plant could be between $60 million and $170 million, the report said.

More planning, investigation and design work would be needed to refine the capital and operational costs.

The report said it was likely a secure water supply could be achieved to 2050, based on current population growth and water demand predictions, without the immediate need of a desalination plant.

The council agreed to discontinue any further feasibility investigations into seawater desalination.

The report said the council continued to develop the Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy with technical analysis for a secure water supply nearing completion.

"Detailed community engagement and consultation is being planned for October 2020 to inform and engage with the community on securing our future water supply," the report said.

"The construction of a bulk water filtration plant at Cowarra Dam, enabling the relaxation of water quality extraction limits, will provide a secure water supply to 2050 based on current population growth and water demand predictions."

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