Future water for our region

Rous County Council recently finished investigating new water sources capable of securing a sustainable water supply for major parts of the Northern Rivers region.

The result is Rous County Council’s proposed Future Water Project 2060 – a $245 million plan to future-proof the community’s precious drinking water supplies over the next 40 years and beyond.

In July 2020, Rous County Council released its proposed Future Water Project 2060 (PDF 5.6 MB) for public exhibition. The project is the culmination of Rous County Council’s extensive investigations over a long period to select a viable solution for permanently boosting the region’s drinking water supply.

Most recently, Rous County Council finished exploring the long-term suitability of several new water source options identified in its Future Water Strategy 2014. Adopted in 2014 following extensive community input, the strategy’s options included:

• Increased groundwater use;
• Water reuse; and
• The long-proposed Dunoon Dam.

The detailed reports are available here. Read the community information brochure (PDF 5.6 MB) about the preferred options for securing the region's water supply.

Visual journey

To assist the community to understand the scope and options of the Future Water Project 2060 proposed plan, RCC have created a 3D virtual landscape model of our catchment.  The model includes a guided bird’s eye view tour through RCC’s current and proposed bulk water supply assets.

Securing water for the future

Watch this three-part video series to learn more about the planning and decision-making process that is involved in delivering a sustainable water supply for the future.

Video 3: Key elements and public exhibition process

Video 2: Determining the future

Video 1: Planning now to secure our future water

Submissions on the Future Water Project 2060 are now closed.

Submission open and close dates
Open: 1 July 2020
Close: 9 September 2020

What happens to the submissions?
Results from the feedback submission forms will be collated post 9 September 2020 with a report being made public on the results in December 2020.

Frequently Asked Questions