Funding: The Australian Government committed $80 million through the National Water Grid Fund toward Dungowan Pipeline Stage 1 project, which included the development of a detailed business case.
The project is delivering a new pipeline to connect the Calala Water Treatment Plant to the Dungowan Showground.
Project overview
Dungowan Pipeline
This project saw the construction of a new delivery pipeline that connects the Calala Water Treatment Plant to the Dungowan Showground. The new 21 km delivery pipeline establishes a reliable connection from the Chaffey Dam pipeline to Tamworth’s town water supply.
It replaces 70-year-old infrastructure that was leading to 2.2 megalitres in water losses every day.
The new pipeline can transfer 22 megalitres of untreated water a day from the Dungowan Dam to the Calala Water Treatment Plant for residential and commercial use.
Construction of the pipeline was completed in August 2023.
To support the project, a detailed business case for the proposed new Dungowan Dam and pipeline project was undertaken.
The Australian Government is committed to responsible investment in water infrastructure, based on scientific evidence and business cases that stack up economically and environmentally.
Following the completion of the detailed business case and its evaluation by Infrastructure Australia, the Australian Government cancelled the $595 million commitment to construct a new Dungowan Dam. The detailed business case did not justify proceeding with construction of the proposed new dam and identified viable alternative, lower cost water security options.
Infrastructure Australia published an evaluation summary of the former Dungowan Dam and Pipeline project in August 2022.
The Australian Government is committed to working with the New South Wales Government to identify water security solutions for regional and remote communities, including in the Tamworth region.
Key project benefits
Learn more
- Read the evaluation summary of the former Dungowan Dam and Pipeline project published by Infrastructure Australia in August 2022.
- Learn more about the National Water Grid Fund as our primary program for responsible investment in water projects.
- Find out about our Science Program and how it’s helping to inform the work of the National Water Grid Authority.