ENVIRONMENTAL planning documents have been lodged with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and a preliminary concept design is underway to raise Wyangala Dam wall, the NSW Government says.
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A media release from water minister Melinda Pavey on Tuesday, March 31 said they were pushing on with the project despite the coronavirus pandemic.
"Local communities across NSW, now more than ever, need projects that will stimulate their economies and provide jobs in the near future to aid in the recovery following the drought and now COVID-19," Mrs Pavey said.
International firm Stantec GHD Joint Venture has also been appointed as the engineering and environmental adviser and geotechnical investigations will begin in April, the release said.
The government is still promising to have "shovels in the ground by October", which will be for pre-works such as access roads to the dam wall, member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman previously confirmed.
Construction is expected to take four years before the dam can fill to the new capacity.
The media release also said Water NSW would move ahead with community engagement, with little taking place with local landholders to date.
While Wyangala Dam wall is in the Hilltops Council area, the water catchment area is in the Upper Lachlan Shire and could impact infrastructure on the water line.
The project will secure water for towns in the Cowra Council area such as Cowra, Forbes, Hillston and Condobolin.
The water level at Wyagngala Dam 12.3 per cent on March 27.
