WE'VE heard a change of tune from the state government this week around water funding.
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The Water Minister revealed state government doesn't have to wait to finish a water study before pledging money for a new water supply for Tamworth.
Previously, MPs have said a water upgrade hinged on a study, the Namoi Regional Water Strategy, which is due to be handed down by the end of 2020, but minister Melinda Pavey's spokesperson said that wasn't the case.
We've also seen a change in heart toward the Dungowan Dam upgrade, which many view as the best long-term water security option for Tamworth.
Both Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson and the Water Minister have publicly backed the project as a good option.
The upgrade appeared dead in the water (excuse the pun), with the state government put off by its close to half-a-billion price tag.
At the moment, it's $484-million price tag would make it the most expensive dam per megalitre of any build in Australia over the last two years. However, the cost of the development could drop significantly.
Tamworth Regional Council has asked for a geo-technical study to be carried out, which would examine the substrata of the new dam site.
It's a crucial part of any new dam, and without it, the worst case scenario has been budgeted for.
On a completely different water topic - but no less controversial - a Tamworth councillor has asked TRC to investigate the possibility of recycling the city's wastewater in to drinkable water.
Mark Rodda said European cities such as London have been doing it for years, and to him, it was a no-brainer.
While many endorsed the idea, it remains to be seen if the majority residents can get over their fear of drinking something that was once flushed down their toilet. Despite the advanced technology involved in the process, and the number of developed places doing something similar, it still has a stigma attached to it.
Cr Rodda's colleagues were not overly enthused by the idea.
Jamieson Murphy is an ACM journalist