Work will start early this year on a $8.11 million overhaul of Gunnedah’s ageing Sewage Treatment Plant.
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Gunnedah mayor Jamie Chaffey said the renewal project has been a long time coming for a town on the rise, particularly as some current infrastructure was nearly a century old.
“Some of the equipment that will be replaced as part of this project is almost 100 years old,” Cr Chaffey said.
“With the growth we've seen in our region, it is something we needed to do.”
Project tenders are being evaluated now for an anticipated start in the first quarter of 2017.
Development will also attract new local employment opportunities.
“There is expected to be 24 jobs created through construction phase and we hope to have a high number come from our local community,” he said.
Nearly $2 million in funding for the upgrade was sourced through the state’s resources for regions pool – a $32 million kitty designed to relieve the strain on communities directly impacted by mining activity.
Gunnedah was previously ineligible for the scheme, but under council’s then mayor Owen Hasler and Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson, lobbied to have the criteria changed.
In March last year, the NSW government opened applications to any community affected by mining.
Cr Chaffey said Gunnedah deserved to share in the funding.
“Mining plays a huge part in our economic development and sustainability as a community,” he said.
Mr Anderson said Gunnedah is in a “unique position” as one of the few regional centres in NSW experiencing growth.
“When we see populations of around 10,000, they're generally declining and populations are contracting to larger regional centres,” Mr Anderson said.
“Gunnedah is quite the opposite.
“The future is bright for Gunnedah… it is the centre for growth.”
The local member said the Gunnedah upgrade’s relatively small monetary request represented good value among 67 expressions of interest fielded for developments around the state.
“This project was selected because it demonstrates value for money and will make a significant contribution to economic and social growth in Gunnedah,” he said.
“Sewerage around Gunnedah is ageing and required work to make it sound for the future so this funding will go a long way to achieving that.”
The new works will future-proof Gunnedah’s sewerage treatment facility until the year 2038.
Since 2012, $208 million has been allocated to 32 resources for regions-funded projects.