The state government has announced it will fund a $5.7 million emergency water pipeline to shore up supplies for Armidale.
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Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall made the announcement on Tuesday for the pipeline from Puddledock Dam to Armidale.
"It will be another resource to make sure we don't run out of water," Mr Barilaro said. "We're not going to sit idle when we know there are opportunities for investment."
Armidale is expected to run out of water at the end of October next year; the pipeline would stretch out that "day zero'' date, Mr Marshall said.
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The current pipeline, Cr Murray said, was built when Armidale had a much smaller population. "The diameter is far too small to supply water to Armidale," he said.
A much larger-diameter pipeline will be a back-up for Armidale should there be problems with the Malpas Dam to Armidale one.
Armidale and Guyra have more than 400 days of water supply left; Puddledock and the bores will lengthen that.
If necessary, Mr Marshall said, he would ask state government to help fund infrastructure.
Mr Marshall said he was confident the council and state government working together would make sure Armidale and Guyra did not run out of water.
The state government was committed to making sure communities did not run out of water in the drought, Mr Barilaro said.