The second phase of the City of Canada Bay’s $3.7 million Water for the Community project has now started with the construction of a water off-take structure, underground pipeline network and the installation of water pumps.
“This is one of the stormwater harvesting and recycling projects in metropolitan Sydney and has the capacity to save our community around $210,000 each year, as well as 180 million litres of drinking water,” Mayor Tsirekas said.
“When completed, the project will provide an alternative water supply to irrigate our community’s 220 hectares of open space via a harvesting system which will re-use treated stormwater that would have otherwise flowed into the Parramatta River. On days like today we will be saving the run-off from this heavy rain and storing it for future use.”
“It is one of the most innovative and sustainable projects in local government in NSW and will provide long-term water security for Canada Bay.”
The Water for the Community project has been made possible thanks to a $1.89 million grant from the Australian Government’s Water for the Future initiative and funding from the NSW Government’s Climate Change Fund, as well as Council funding.
“Community use of recreational facilities is expected to grow by 19 per cent over the next 30 years and with our expected population growth, providing maintained open space will be as important as ever,” Mayor Tsirekas said.
“Our facilities are already used by more than 350,000 people per year and during dry periods when there could be water restrictions, they cannot be maintained in optimum condition. This project will ensure they can be.”
Current work includes the laying of underground pipes that will distribute water from holding tanks in Cintra Park at Concord to various sporting fields and parks around the area. Currently Stanley Street between Cintra Park and Broughton Street, Concord is having underground piping installed along the footpath.