Icon Water is to supply temporary water relief to Braidwood after the town’s supply dried up due to low inflows and bushfires in the region.
ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr said the decision showed Canberrans were willing to stand with the region during this difficult time.
“Canberra is a generous community and I think it is as good thing we are able to provide short-term water relief to Braidwood to assist them through this difficult period,” Mr Barr said.
He said the temporary arrangement for supply of between 250 and 300kL per day would be in place for up to six months as the Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) and NSW Government worked to develop a longer-term solution.
Mr Barr said the supply agreement followed a request from QPRC to provide temporary relief after Braidwood moved into Stage 4 water restrictions on 10 January.
The plan will see tankers draw up to 300kL of water each day from Queanbeyan’s reticulation network and cart it to Braidwood.
With a population of less than 2,000, Mr Barr said the supply to Braidwood was not expected to have a significant impact on the ACT’s long-term water security.
“The amount that would be provided to Braidwood over a six-month period is less than one day of supply for residents of Canberra and Queanbeyan,” he said.
He said, however, it was important that a long-term solution to the water supply issue be identified.
