Water Security Project

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Armidale Regional Council is working to secure the region’s long-term water supply. The 2019 drought brought our community close to running out of water. This project is our response.

Stage 1

  • Reinstating Oaky River Dam and Hydropower station.
  • Constructing a 54 km pipeline to the Armidale Water Treatment Plant.
  • This gives the region a second, independent water source for the first time.

Stage 2

  • Raising Maplus Dam to increase long term storage.
  • Stage 2 will be delivered when water demand growth across the region confirms it is required.

Why Oaky Dam comes first: raising Malpas Dam requires partially dewatering the storage for construction. Oaky River Dam provides the backup supply to ensure water security is ongoing.

Armidale Regional Council is working to secure the region’s long-term water supply. The 2019 drought brought our community close to running out of water. This project is our response.

Stage 1

  • Reinstating Oaky River Dam and Hydropower station.
  • Constructing a 54 km pipeline to the Armidale Water Treatment Plant.
  • This gives the region a second, independent water source for the first time.

Stage 2

  • Raising Maplus Dam to increase long term storage.
  • Stage 2 will be delivered when water demand growth across the region confirms it is required.

Why Oaky Dam comes first: raising Malpas Dam requires partially dewatering the storage for construction. Oaky River Dam provides the backup supply to ensure water security is ongoing.

Page last updated: 10 Jul 2026, 07:49 AM