Northern Rivers residents are on their way to safer and more reliable drinking water with a total of $357,000 in funding secured to progress planning and design work that will significantly improve water quality for Nimbin and Casino.

The NSW Government is investing $123,500 toward these initiatives, along with $165,000 from Lismore City Council and $68,500 from Richmond Valley Council to fund work that will deliver the best infrastructure solutions for treating water to a higher standard.

In Nimbin, concept designs are moving ahead for a new filtration and treatment system that will produce better-quality water for the town’s 2,422 residents. 

A temporary plant was installed during the 2022 major floods in the Northern Rivers as part of the recovery response, but a more permanent solution is needed. Building a modern, fit-for-purpose plant will enable the town to treat raw water that flows from Mulgum Creek into the D.E Williams storage dam more effectively, eliminating boil water alerts for residential households in Nimbin.  

At Casino, investigations are underway to explore the most viable options to upgrade the local water treatment plant, boosting water quality for the town’s 11,000 residents while making it easier and cheaper for council to maintain and operate.

The 40-year-old plant has been declining in condition and struggling to treat river water when algae and organic matter is present, particularly after significant periods of drought, heavy rainfall or bushfire. 

The Nimbin and Casino projects are funded through the NSW Safe and Secure Water Program, and the concept design and options study are both expected to be finished by the end of the year.

The program is supporting up to $1 billion worth of regional projects across the state, with more than 260 in various stages of delivery.

State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said, “Water security is front of mind for the Northern Rivers region, so it’s great to see the NSW Government is looking to the future to ensure places like Nimbin and Casino get the water services they deserve.

“These funds will get the ball rolling on boosting drinking water quality in both towns, which is excellent news for locals as well as the many visitors who flock to this region every year.   

“Getting the planning and design processes right is extremely important because these are the essential stepping stones that can help us make sure we’re putting the right infrastructure in place that will serve local communities for decades to come.” 

Lismore City Council, Mayor Cr Steve Krieg said, “Joining forces with the NSW Government to complete the concept design for a new filtration system for Nimbin, kitted out with 21st-century technology, will treat water to a higher standard and help put an end to boil water alerts for those on the town water network.

“We know raw water supply in Nimbin is often affected by weather conditions and organic matter in Mulgum Creek, which is why we are keen to move this project into the next gear and get it to tender ready stage to improve outcomes for the community.” 

Richmond Valley Council Mayor Cr Robert Mustow said, “Kickstarting investigations into the best options for upgrading the water treatment plant to help future proof water services for Casino is a big win for locals, businesses and visitors. 

“We know extreme weather events can significantly impact the quality of water in the Richmond River, so ensuring we have advanced infrastructure in place to produce high-quality drinking water is a necessity.”