For a number of years Singleton Council has been working on the Bulga Water Supply Scheme – the best way to provide drinking water to residents of the village given the impact of dust pollution on existing tank water supplies.
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At last night’s meeting Council adopted their Option B plan for the scheme with the construction of a water main from Broke to provide potable water for the village.
The other Option A involved a pipeline from Mount Thorley to Bulga a length of 9.7km versus the 14.8km from Broke.
But the Broke option according to Council’s report would service 186 properties from Wollombi Street, Broke, Milbordale Road and along Putty Road to Thompson Road, Bulga whereas the Mt Thorley option would service only 108 properties.
The project using Option B is expected to cost $11.30 million – which will require significant capital funding from Council in addition to their grant of $1.4m from Restart NSW.
As such Council voted to defer construction of the Scheme until additional grant funding is secured.
Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association, president, John Krey said the Association suggested funding for the Scheme could have been provided as part of the Mount Thorley Warkworth Voluntary Planning Agreement.
In response Council said this was not the current intended purpose of the MTW VPA.
Mr Krey said the approval of the expanded mine and the fact it’s mining operations were moving closer to Bulga meant water collection from roof tops was becoming almost impossible so therefore why not use the VPA funds to provide safe, clean water for Bulga and Milbrodale residents.
He was also critical of the costs involved in getting water to residences from the pipeline.
“If a house is located 700 metres off- the road as many are then we expect the homeowners to pay $21,000 to have the water connected. And if they don’t want the water they will still incur an annual fee of $275,” he said.
“In our first discussions with Council we were told we would be provided free of charge water right to our homes. They have obviously promised more than they can delivery. Well use the VPA money or get the mine to fund the Scheme.
“Under the scheme as proposed residents along Wambo Road and those further along Inlet Road miss out on the water connection.”