All levels of government have come together to roll out new and innovative water infrastructure for the City of Orange and its 40,000-odd residents.
Orange residents are closer to seeing a new innovative water supply solution roll into town as a preliminary business case gets underway to look at constructing the first purified recycled water treatment demonstration plant in regional NSW.
It’s thanks to a $400,000 partnership between the Federal and New South Wales Governments, along with Orange City Council, to explore the feasibility of building pioneering new infrastructure that will showcase how this technology works and whether it will provide another option for long-term water security in the Central West.
“This $400,000 investment is a bold step toward increasing water security for the Central West, offering a pioneering solution to the region’s water challenges,” NSW Senator Deborah O’Neill said. “The collaboration highlights the Albanese Government’s commitment to innovative infrastructure solutions that improve resilience in the face of climate challenges.”
The plant will use cutting-edge technology to treat and recycle wastewater to an extremely high standard, which the Cadia Gold Mine will use for industrial purposes.
The plant is estimated to produce approximately 3.5 megalitres of water per day, roughly a quarter of Orange’s daily needs.
“Recycled water is already being used in 35 cities across the globe and is currently being tested at Quakers Hill in Sydney’s west,” NSW Minister for Water Rose Jackson MLC said. “It is still early days for New South Wales, and we have to do our due diligence first, but it’s exciting to think of the possibilities this cutting-edge technology could offer as we progress work on the draft Recycled Water Roadmap.”
Using purified recycled water (PRW) is a great way to increase water supply resilience and relieve pressure on existing water sources.
The design will allow for future expansion if the plant proves successful and the community supports this move.
“Orange is one of the fastest growing regional towns in the state in terms of tourism, agriculture, and mining, and that’s one of the reasons water security is so critically important for the Central West,” Member for Orange Phil Donato MP said.
A learning centre is planned to be built alongside the demonstration plant to enable locals to better understand the benefits of recycled water and how the process works.
If approved, the plant will be the second groundbreaking water security solution for the region following the introduction of stormwater harvesting in 2009, which can deliver up to a quarter of the town’s water needs.
“Orange has proven it’s on the front foot when it comes to water solutions, such as our award-winning stormwater harvesting scheme – we’ve always been forward-thinking when looking at alternative ways to secure and use water,” Orange City Council Mayor Tony Mileto said. “We’re looking forward to becoming the first regional city in NSW to trial purified recycled water to safeguard our resources and ensure our community is in a stronger position to withstand the next drought.”
The preliminary business case’s funding includes $200,000 from the Australian Government’s National Water Grid Fund, $100,000 from the NSW Government, and $100,000 from Orange City Council.
Work will begin shortly and is expected to be complete by June 2025.
The NSW Government’s draft Recycled Water Roadmap outlines actions to address barriers and pave the way for increased and expanded recycled water use in the future, including drinking and non-drinking purposes, where it is safe, beneficial and cost-effective.
For more information, go to: https://water.dpie.nsw.gov.au/our-work/plans-and-strategies/recycled-water-roadmap.
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