The project was jointly funded by the Australian Government ($10 million) and the New South Wales Government ($12 million). Australian Government funding was provided through the National Water Grid Fund.
This business case investigated the potential to construct a new dam to secure more water for the region.
Project overview
The Australian Government is committed to responsible investment in water infrastructure. This is based on scientific evidence and business cases that stack up economically and environmentally.
A strategic business case was undertaken to look at the construction of a new dam to support the region. If constructed, a new dam could capture more water and be available during drier times.
The business case found that constructing the dam was technically feasible but there were significant challenges impacting the overall feasibly of the project, including cross border water management issues, the unregulated water system and no water sharing plan being in place. In addition, the project was not well supported by the community.
Based on these findings, the New South Wales Government decided not to proceed with further investigation for the project at this point and has committed to implement the actions identified in the Border Rivers Regional Water Strategy Implementation Plan. This means the Australian Government is not providing funding for the construction of a new Mole River Dam.
The Australian Government will continue to work with the New South Wales Government to support the water needs of the region.
Learn more
- Learn more about the National Water Grid Fund as our primary program for responsible investment in water projects.
- Find out how we work with leading national science institutions through the National Water Grid Science Program.