Council seeks solution to decades-long issue

Published on 19 January 2024

Council welcomes the support shown by the Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan recently on the ABC, on the need to prioritise Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct (SAP) investment into Jindabyne’s water and wastewater infrastructure.

The SAP presents an opportunity to fund a permanent solution to Jindabyne’s water and wastewater infrastructure, through major investment in upgraded water and wastewater treatment plants.

At times, Jindabyne’s current water treatment system is unable to maintain the appropriate water quality standards due to severe weather, low lake levels, and the proximity of the Mowamba Aqueduct.

For example, in the last two years alone Jindabyne has had five boil water alerts, totalling 41 days that the town was without drinkable tap water.

Additionally, Jindabyne’s sewage treatment plant is already near capacity and future growth demands will exceed its capacity in the short term.

Prioritising SAP investment into water and wastewater infrastructure will address an issue decades in the making, and allow all the benefits of the SAP to be realised.

Mayor Hanna and CEO David Hogan have been meeting with our local MP, Minister Steve Whan, regarding this matter over recent months. We appreciate the support shown by Mr Whan in his recent interview and his continuing representations in government on this important matter for our community.  

We are committed to working with the NSW Government to address this matter, so that in the long term, boil water alerts will be a thing of the past and Jindabyne can reach its full potential.