AFGW-ACT Inc. is a member of the Australian Federation of University Women which, in turn is affiliated with the International Federation of University Women (I.F.U.W.).

AFUW-ACT Inc. Meeting Report 2009

Topic: Securing the ACT's Water Supply

Speaker: Cameron MacIntosh

Cameron McIintosh from ACTEWAGL gave a very informative talk in May on projects ACTEWAGL are working on to give ACT water security in future years. The Cotter dam and Googong dam are central; the Cotter basin gets more rain than Googong. For emergencies the Googong Water Treatment plant was upgraded in 2004 and the Cotter, after being off-line for 40-50 years has been reinstated. and water is transferred to Googong.
The Stromlo Water Treatment Plant was needed after the bushfires and is used for water from the Murrumbidgee River which is not as pure as from the Cotter.

ACTEW puts in a submission to the Government to recover costs; pricing depends on how difficult it is to get water up. Prices here are quite high.

FACTORS AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY -
Climate change and variability; population growth; reduction targets for water use; water restrictions, environmental flows; Bushfires.

MAJOR PROJECTS
ENLARGEMENT OF COTTER DAM - Capacity will be increased from 4gl. to 78 gl. There will be a new wall built, the old wall will be drowned. In spite of the drought the Cotter is holding up.

MURRUMBIDGEE TO GOOGONG - Water will be pumped through a pumping station to a pipeline, which will take water through Williamsdale to Burra Creek to Googong Dam. This will use existing entitlements.

TANTANGARA TRANSFER - Water will be transferred from NSW to ACT. The water will go to the Snowy where it will be used by Snowy hydro then to Eucumbene to Tumut and back to Murrumbidgee River. Water is being purchased from people who are willing to sell their rights. Tanatangara is a very reliable source of water.

GOOGONG spillway is to be upgraded.