A $3.5 million upgrade to the Urbenville Water Treatment Plant has been completed, bolstering water security for three drought-prone villages in northern NSW.
The expanded facility now supports more than 700 residents across Urbenville, Muli Muli and Woodenbong, with upgraded infrastructure designed to manage highly variable raw water quality and prolonged dry periods.
Built in 2010, the original plant had struggled to cope with fluctuating source conditions from Tooloom Creek. The upgrade addressed this by installing two new clarifier lagoons to pre-treat incoming raw water. This enhances filter performance and output reliability, especially during periods of poor water quality.
A new bore and onsite storage tanks have been brought online to provide backup supply. The jetty offtake has also been overhauled, and debris cages installed to protect pump infrastructure from storm-driven detritus.
“The last drought hit people in the region incredibly hard, which is why it was so important to get their water infrastructure upgraded and working to modern-day standards,” said NSW Minister for Water Rose Jackson.
The three-year project was jointly funded by $1.42 million from the Australian Government’s National Water Grid Fund, $2 million from the NSW Drought Fund, and $100,000 combined from Tenterfield and Kyogle councils.
Mayor of Tenterfield Shire Council Bronwyn Petrie called the project “a landmark day” for the region.
“We’ve had our fair share of setbacks, but we are now able to cut the ribbon on this incredible water treatment upgrade and deliver a secure water future.”
The Urbenville upgrade also marks the final milestone of the NSW Connections package – a $31.6 million program co-funded by state, federal and council sources. Delivered under the National Water Grid’s NSW pathway, the package included three major projects in Walcha, West Wyalong and Urbenville.
The entire package added 78.6 ML of productive-use water annually and boosted urban supply by 378.6 ML, supporting more than 300 ongoing jobs. It also delivered key assets such as pipelines, reservoirs, and off-stream storage infrastructure across the state.
Federal Acting Minister for Water Catherine King said the project “has future-proofed water security for local residents.”
