Walcha's water supply is now approximately half completed and should be completed by the end of the year. It is just as interesting to learn also that during the recent very dry weather, the MacDonald River was still flowing sufficiently to have kept the town supplied.
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The scheme is being constructed by the Public Works Department. On completion of construction, the scheme will be handed over to the Shire Council who will then operate and maintain it. The total cost - estimated at 214,000 pounds, will be shared on a 50/50 basis between the Shire Council and the Public Works Department. Council will recover their contribution and necessary operating costs, from water rates.
A concrete pump well on the bank of the Macdonald River will house two 20,000 gallon-per -hour pumps which will pump the water to a small reservoir on top of the range. From there the water will gravitate to a half-million gallon reservoir on the hill behind the hospital that will store water and feed the pipes in town.
Walcha's water supply is now approximately half completed and should be completed by the end of the year. It is just as interesting to learn also that during the recent very dry weather, the MacDonald River was still flowing sufficiently to have kept the town supplied.
The scheme is being constructed by the Public Works Department, the main contractor being General Constructions Pty Ltd - a Sydney firm.
On completion of construction, the scheme will be handed over to the Shire Council who will then operate and maintain it.
The total cost - estimated at 214,000 pounds, will be shared on a 50/50 basis between the Shire Council and the Public Works Department. Council will recover their contribution and necessary operating costs, from water rates.
A concrete pump well on the bank of the Macdonald River will house two 20,000 gallon-per -hour pumps which will pump the water to a small reservoir on top of the range. The pumps will pump against a head of 680 feet to the small reservoir, about four miles out on the Aberbaldie Road.
From there the water will gravitate to a half-million gallon reservoir on the hill behind the hospital.
This larger reservoir will hold water in storage and feed the pipes in town.
Each house will be fed by three-quarter inch copper pipe from a four- inch or six- inch main in the street.
The copper pipe will terminate just inside the property boundary and the individual householder will then arrange the necessary plumbing to connect to the copper pipe.
The main pipe from the river to town is completed except for three miles; the pumping station is completed and work is proceeding laying the pipes in town.
The large reservoir- built by sub-contractor, Australian Concrete Products, is also nearing completion.
Speed of construction has been slowed by a much greater quantity of rock than was expected, but a steady rate of progress has been maintained.