Goldenfields Water County Council will welcome The Minister for Water, Property and Housing, The Hon. Melinda Pavey MP to the region this Wednesday 14th August, to officially open Stage 1 of the Mandamah Rural Water Supply Scheme.
The Minister will be joined by Member for Cootamundra and Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier Steph Cooke. “I’m delighted that we have reached the opening of Stage 1 of this important project for Mandamah. Being able to readily access a reliable water source is vital for farmer, particularly during this ongoing drought. No longer will they have to cart water or rely in rainfall to meet their needs,” said Ms Cooke.
The official opening will be held at the Reservoir site, located approximately 15km west of Barmedman on the Wargin Trig Access Road. Commencing at 2.30pm, the public is invited to attend the official event to celebrate the historical achievement which has been a combined effort of the Mandamah farmers and Goldenfields Water over several years.
The construction of Stage 1 Mandamah has taken two years to complete and approximately $4.5 million from the overall $10.9 million dollar project investment, making the water scheme one of Goldenfields Water’s largest undertaking in recent history. Stage 1 Mandamah farmers have had access to the water scheme since the beginning of July, making it a pivotal time in their farming careers, as this is the first time they have had access to a reliable water source. “For the last 40 odd years or for as long as I’ve been around; all I can remember is us carting water at home. I’ve spent Christmas Day and Boxing Day sitting at the Mirrool standpipe carting water before, which is not much fun but when you have livestock that’s what you have to do, because without it, there was no water,” said Mandamah Board Member and local famer Jaime Pursehouse.
The benefits of the new scheme will be enormous. Darryl Harper, Mandamah Board Member and local farmer said “the water scheme is going to enable me to properly run my farm and not spend valuable time and money carting water.”
