Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack visited the council chambers on Thursday, June 10, to discuss the shire's new $102.5 million water storage project being built west of Bodalla.
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The Nationals Leader met with Labor's Kristy McBain, member for Eden-Monaro, to celebrate the joint effort securing funds for the much-needed project.
In the 2020/21 federal budget, the government allocated $51.2 million towards the shire's new southern water storage facility, making the project fully funded.
The completed project will see water pumped from the Tuross River to an off-stream storage and water treatment plant.
Currently, water is pumped straight from the Tuross River to residents' taps, even during times of low river flow.
Once the new dam is built, Eurobodalla Shire Council's director of Infrastructure Warren Sharpe said water will no longer need to be pumped straight from the river.
"That means in the low flows, we can leave more water in the river for the farmers to use which is important for them," he said.
He said it will be a "huge benefit" to farmers as more water will be flowing in the river, keeping the saltwater interface further down stream. It will also leave additional water in the river for the environment.
Eden-Monaro MP Kristy McBain was pleased to see three levels of government work together to bring the project to the Eurobodalla Shire.
She said the new dam will provide better water security for the region in times of drought and bushfires.
"It's above politics," she said.
"It is a great initiative that's not only needed and wanted by this community, but one that will make a huge difference for generations in terms of ongoing water security for town water supply, agriculture and any future natural disasters we may encounter," Ms McBain said.
In total, $102.5 million of state, federal and Eurobodalla Shire Council funds were going towards the project.
Mr McCormack said the project would "unlock investment and potential" in the Eurobodalla shire "for decades to come".
"I know how hard the community has fought to get this outcome," he said.
Mr McCormack said the federal government's investment was part of the $3.5 billion National Water Grid Fund.
Mr Sharpe said the project had already started with the water pump station well underway.
He said the next phase will be to build a new road to the dam off Eurobodalla Road.
"We expect that work to be completed before Christmas," Mr Sharpe said.
"We are also in the process of arrangements for power upgrade to the dam site and the pump station site, we need a bit more power to push that water through. That contract should be met before Christmas as well."
The council was preparing expressions of interest for suitable contractors to complete the two-year build of the dam wall.
The council will assess tenders early next year.
Once the dam wall is built, Mr Sharpe said water will be gradually pumped at suitable times to fill its 3000 megalitre capacity.
"It will take 18 months to two years to fill that dam up," he said.
"While that's occurring we will still have the ability to use water from that dam."
Mr Sharpe said the new dam will have the foundation treatment to be lifted from 3000 megalitres to 8000 megalitres in the future.
"We are building something for the next few decades but also planning something for the community that will come well beyond our tenure," he said.
He said the new dam will compliment the shire's second water supply of Deep Creek Dam at Batemans Bay, which has a 4900 megalitre capacity.
There had been concerns in the community over rising sea levels impacting the build, however Mr Sharpe said "climate change and sea level rise factors have been accounted for when planning this dam".
Construction of the Tuross River pump station was expected to be complete early next year, while the dam site was expected to be cleared in February 2022.
Investigations to identify a feasible site for an off-stream storage facility in the shire began in 2005. In March 2018, Eurobodalla Shire Council urged a new storage facility be built to ensure water security.
READ MORE: Tuross River catchment site of planned dam