What we're doing
Tantangara Transfer
In October 2007, the ACT Government announced a range of new water supply projects, which included pursuing the possibility of the Tantangara Transfer, as a project that would help make us less dependent on rainfall in our local region, and further secure our water supply.
What is the Tantangara Transfer option?
The Tantangara Transfer involves transferring water from the regulated Murrumbidgee River to the ACT via the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
This would involve:
- Buying NSW water entitlements from Murrumbidgee River irrigators downstream of the ACT;
- Agreeing on commercial arrangements with Snowy Hydro Limited for the storage and release of water from Tantangara Reservoir;
- Putting in place arrangements between the NSW and ACT Governments to allow for transfer of water from NSW to the ACT.
- Delivery of water to the ACT via the Upper Murrumbidgee River.
Why it may be needed?
The Tantangara Transfer will help to combat the drastic effects of climate change on our water supply by giving us access to a source of water not dependent on the ACT's local rainfall.
Transfer Options
Many options have been assessed in terms of a mechanism to physically transfer the water from Tantangara to the ACT. The preferred option at this time is to release the water into the Murrumbidgee River, allow it to flow to the ACT, then pump it from the Murrumbidgee River through a 13 kilometre underground pipeline to Burra Creek, which flows into Googong Reservoir.
Regulatory and Commercial Issues
Inter-Governmental arrangements are required to enable purchased water entitlements to be transferred from irrigators downstream of the ACT and be stored in the Snowy Mountains Scheme, in the Tantangara Reservoir. Commercial negotiations are also required for the storage and release of water from Snowy Hydro Limited infrastructure.
How long will it take?
It is envisaged that it will take until the end of 2009 to complete political, legal and commercial work on this option.
What's been happening lately?
ACTEW has to date purchased around 12.5GL of general security water entitlements and continues work to source more. Negotiations with the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, Office of Water are progressing over the proposed inter-governmental arrangements.
Talks with Snowy Hydro Limited are advancing to finalise the commercial arrangements between the two organisations.