A MAJOR construction project that could see a workforce of up to 200 people camping on the outskirts of Dungowan, is expected to have "little to no impact" on noise levels, air quality or the scenery.
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Water Infrastructure NSW met with nearby residents and stakeholders online to discuss the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the half-a-billion dollar proposed Dungowan Dam and pipeline project.
So far, the detailed design for the 55km pipeline is at 80 per cent, the detailed design for the dam is under way and field investigations continue for the EIS and geotechnical studies, Water Infrastructure NSW project manager Antony Bean said.
"There have been significant water supply and security issues in the Tamworth region affecting town water," he said.
"At that time the NSW government had a really good look at the situation in your area and the rest of NSW and passed critical needs water supply legislation so the state government could get moving on progressing critical water infrastructure projects."
Studies on air quality were undertaken at 60 separate locations, including the construction company, vacant buildings inside the construction precinct and 46 homes outside the footprint.
It showed construction would not see air quality standards exceeded, even in the worst case scenario.
Greenhouse gas emissions would be around 27,000 tonnes and mostly from diesel use, Water Infrastructure NSW planning and approvals manager Martin Hicks said.
"That's less than 0.005 per cent of the greenhouse gas being produced by NSW," he said.
"To manage our emissions, we would aim to be more fuel efficient."
Part of the fuel efficiency and efforts to keep noise, vibration and air pollution levels down around homes in Dungowan could see the dam workforce camped out closer to the site for four to six years.
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The meeting was attended by close to 20 locals, who raised issues and concerns around the price of water once the dam is built and how it might impact the inland river network.
Some wanted other options explored altogether, and resident Lyn Allen said she hoped the previous drought could be a lesson on how water is managed.
"Now Chaffey Dam is full it gives WaterNSW the chance to get the releases right and not release all the water in two years as they did before," she said.
Water Infrastructure NSW continues to run consultation sessions on the 22.5GL dam.
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