A $300 MILLION poultry processing plant has got Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) pumped up to potentially construct the largest water purification facility in regional NSW.
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A report on the innovative project will be considered at Tuesday's meeting.
Councillors could decide whether to allocate an additional $1.735 million from a wastewater fund to get early works started.
"Construction of a water purification facility in Tamworth of the type described in the report will allow for future growth of our local protein industry - abattoirs which process lamb, beef or poultry - without reducing the amount drinking water we have available for household use," mayor Russell Webb said.
"There has been a considerable effort from staff to come up with the concept, which is a direct response to feedback from our community asking council to make increasing water security its top priority."
He said if councillors opt to move forward with the early works, the facility could be the largest scheme of its kind in regional NSW.
The idea was sparked after Baiada's development consent to build a new $300 million poultry processing plant, expected to directly create 700 full-time jobs if it goes ahead.
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The demand for water would increase four-fold from its existing plant, according to the report, so Baiada was going to have to build a water treatment facility on-site to avoid risking Tamworth's water security.
To address various concerns with that idea, TRC staff were inspired to suggest building and operating a recycling plant on its own land.
Wastewater would flow in from beef and lamb abattoirs as well as Baiada's existing plant and its new one, treating it to an industrial standard before sending it back to be used by the same customers that generated it.
The report listed benefits of the plan, which included reducing the load on the current Westdale Wastewater Treatment Plant, allowing the deferral of planned works to increase its capacity.
"Council would be able to use the potable water saved to increase the city's water security in general," the report said, and also supply other businesses which may set up in the city.
A strategic business case - funded with $50,000 from the state government and more than $90,000 from council - found water recycling was an essential industry in Tamworth.
It said this approach would provide a sustainable and scalable framework for industry growth in the city, including any new major developments at Tamworth's Global Gateway Park and generally in the airport and western precincts.
Council has earmarked a further $300,000 to fund the completion of a cost estimate and project plan for the water purification facility.
Funding talks with federal and state governments are in the pipeline, TRC said.
Early works would include designs, preliminary approvals, tender document preparation and stakeholder engagement.
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