Bore Investigations Progress to Strengthen Uralla’s Water Security

Published on 05 June 2025

As the Uralla Shire residents know all too well, drought is a serious risk in regional NSW. Empty dams, and communities with no drinking water flowing from their taps makes for a challenging time. We have come to understand water is a vital resource and must be managed for the community’s current needs and its long-term economic and environmental sustainability, especially in dry times.

Uralla Shire Council’s Director of Infrastructure, Mr Mick Raby, and Council’s Manager of Major Projects, Mr Rodney Williams have been working with The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (NSW DCCEEW), Harwood Environmental Consultants (HEC) and Mark Campbell Water Advisory to secure Water Supply Work Approval which allows the Council to construct and extract water from two secondary groundwater aquifers to supplement Uralla Township’s drinking water supply. According to Mick Raby,

“The Groundwater Investigations is a joint NSW Government/Uralla Shire Council response to the water emergency that Uralla Shire experienced in 2019. If we are successful in gaining emergency access licences to the two bores, we will have developed a significant protection from ever having to rely on bottled water a second time.”

Uralla Shire Council worked closely with NSW Government agencies to ensure the test drilling sites were a long way from existing stock & domestic bores. The drilling locations for the bores were on road reserves, Crown land or other Council-controlled land.

Uralla Shire Council’s Project Manager, Rodney Williams said, “Council has also renewed groundwater investigation licences for its existing 10 bores. However, prior to selecting the sites for the 10 Bores, Council engaged a hydrogeologist (Harwood Environmental Consultants) to identify aquifers which may be suitable for a groundwater supply to the Town of Uralla.”

NSW DCCEEW have now assigned both bore applications for Uralla Township Water Supply. As the bores are in different water sources they will be assessed individually and given application numbers.

“The Department will check the applications, and once accepted request payment of the application fees. The processing will then commence including advertising, environmental assessment including the hydrogeologist modelling of potential impacts, a site inspection, through to a final decision to grant or refuse. The application process will take around 5 months to complete by NSW DCCEEW.”

Mark Campbell Water Advisory, said.

The Uralla Groundwater Investigations has been fully funded by the NSW Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Environment, Water Division. The Safe and Secure Future Water Program is funded by the the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW)

Council expresses its gratitude to Mark Campell Water Advisory and to Harwood Environmental Consultants (HEC) for their valuable contribution to this vital project.

For all inquiries about the Uralla Groundwater Investigations please contact council@uralla.nsw.gov.au

More information can be found on Council’s website, https://www.uralla.nsw.gov.au/Council-Services/Major-Projects/Uralla-Groundwater-Project