Homes and businesses from Arrawarra to Corindi rely on a single water main for their drinking water, and one major failure could cut off their supply. Now a $1.6 million contract will push the plan to build a backup past the halfway mark.
City of Coffs Harbour Council has awarded KBS Mackay Pty Ltd the contract to build a 2.3-kilometre water main from Arrawarra Beach Road to Eggins Close.
The build, mostly in the Solitary Islands Way road reserve, is the fourth of six stages in the Northern Beaches Water Main Duplication Program.
The staged program is gradually duplicating the existing trunk water main to improve water security and network resilience for communities between Woolgoolga and Corindi.
Three sections have already been completed or commissioned, including works at Little Arrawarra Gully, Mullaway to Arrawarra, and Emerald Beach to Mullaway.
“This is a long-term City strategy to bolster water security, increase network resilience and provide additional capacity to support future population growth,” said City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Nikki Williams.
City Infrastructure Director Andrew Beswick said a 2021/2022 report found the Northern Beaches water supply system was a critical network vulnerability, because it relied on a single trunk water main.
“That sole trunk main currently provides potable water to communities north of Woolgoolga, including Arrawarra, Mullaway and Corindi,” Beswick said.
“Consequently, a significant failure of that asset has the potential to disrupt water supply to a substantial number of residents and businesses until repairs can be effected.”
Practical completion of the Arrawarra Beach Road to Eggins Close section is expected by Wednesday, 30 June 2027.
“Completion of this project is an important and necessary step to strengthen the reliability and resilience of the network to the northern part of our Local Government Area,” Beswick said.
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