“The intention is to get it fully funded if we can, so there is no burden on ARC ratepayers in terms of capital costs,” Armidale Regional Council CEO Peter Dennis said at Wednesday’s meeting in Tingha.

Council has thrown their support behind the project and is working with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall who has been lobbying the State Government for $10.5 million in funding.

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The remainder of the project is to be funded by either the Federal Government or council.

“This pipeline could single-handedly solve Guyra’s water security and quality issues for decades,” Mr Marshall said this week.

Currently, the town’s water use is almost double its capacity of 277 megalitres and the tomato farm is sucking up to 226 megalitres from the supply in dry times. 

Mr Dennis said the 19.8 kilometre pipeline would not only ensure Guyra’s water security but also facilitate economic and regional growth.

“(But) those new industries will need to pay their way if they’re buying water off the council, there will be charges set in a way that pay for the cost,” he said.

“This project will allow regional growth (and) regional growth allows our water supply to be spread across a much larger base.”

Mr Marshall said the pipeline will expand that capacity to more than 740 megalitres, exceeding anticipated growth over the next 30 years and water quality will also be dramatically improved.

A report prepared by Service Leader Phillip Perram, states the newer 10-hectare tomato farm on the New England Highway is restricted to eight megalitres a year of town water.

It is understood that the new tomato farm, while highly water efficient, may not have access to sufficient water sources for it to expand with a further 10 hectares under glass.

“Only a pipeline from Malpas Dam will meet projected dry-year demands and meet drought security criteria beyond 20 years from now,” Mr Perram wrote.