A Moore Creek group is in discussions with council about connecting bores to reticulated water

With their raw water system under increasing stress, an association has approached Tamworth Regional Council to discuss connection to reticulated water.

Council director of water and waste Bruce Logan said it’s a rural development arrangement, with the association setting its own fees, billing members and maintaining bore water pumps.

“Most of these rural developments were approved in Parry Shire Council days,” he said.

"Tamworth City Council had treated water that wasn’t provided to those residents, they had to demonstrate they could find enough ground water to supply rural residential developments.

“But, in drought times, sometimes the ground water gets a bit scare and they start to get concerned they’ll run out of water.”

Town water users pay $1.50 per kiloliter up to 400 kiloliters, $2.25 from 400 to 800 and $3.38 after that.

Connection to reticulated water also incurs an availability cost, which covers things like maintenance and electricity for a pressurised system.

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But, members of the Moore Creek group will only have to pay the initial cost to connect pipes to their system.

Councillor Glenn Inglis questioned the absence of the availability fee for the association at Tuesday’s meeting, but the issue wasn’t considered by council.

Mr Logan said there were two options, to take over the whole system and bill them or augment their supply through a single meter and let the association distribute water from there.

“Some are a lot harder to connect and a lot more costly, it will be done on a case by case basis,” he said.

“This group is planning ahead, if it doesn’t rain they’re concerned they will run out of water and they’re asking what council will do.”

The costs of augmentation and connection will be reviewed by the association before plans are drafted.