Nimbin residents can turn on their taps with confidence again — but those on the outskirts of the village are still waiting, and the fight to give the whole community safe, reliable water for good is far from over.
Lismore City Council has lifted a Boil Water Alert for the Nimbin village water supply following support from NSW Health, after treatment performance concerns were identified at the temporary water treatment plant during recent wet weather.
Council’s Director of Water, Waste and Open Spaces Matt Potter said the alert showed the system was working as it should.
“While we understand this has been a frustrating period for residents, public health must always come first,” said Mr Potter.
“As soon as we identified the issue we acted immediately, issued the Boil Water Alert as a precaution and worked closely with the supplier of the temporary treatment plant, specialist technicians and NSW Health to investigate and resolve the problem.”
Village residents are advised to flush their pipes before drinking, running a tap for two to three minutes — ideally the one furthest from their water meter, usually in the backyard.
But not everyone is off the hook. Residents connected to the Nimbin Rural water supply on the outskirts of the village remain under an ongoing Boil Water Alert. That includes properties along Tuntable Falls Road, Kirkland Road, Gungas Road, Anderson Road, Basil Road, Evelyn Way and Weismantel Road.
The temporary treatment plant now at the centre of the drama was installed after the devastating 2022 floods, when landslips and catchment damage caused major changes to raw water quality across the region.
“While the temporary facility restored essential water services to the community, it was always intended as an interim solution while planning and design work for a permanent plant progressed,” said Mr Potter.
That permanent solution is now taking shape. A new water treatment plant is moving through the design and approvals phase, with construction at the Cecil Street site set to begin in January 2027.
The new facility is being built with the region’s wild weather firmly in mind.
“The new facility is being designed with resilience in mind and will be better able to withstand extreme weather events,” said Mr Potter.
It will also incorporate modern treatment technologies aimed at reducing environmental impact through energy-efficient systems and sustainable construction practices.
Work is also underway at the weir at the top of Gungas Road, which feeds water to Williams Dam before it is pumped to the Nimbin Reservoir.
“As part of Council’s broader flood restoration efforts, these projects represent a significant investment in critical infrastructure and the long-term safety and sustainability of Nimbin’s water network,” said Mr Potter.
Council said further updates on project timelines and construction activities would be published on its website, with timelines subject to change due to weather, site conditions and supply constraints.
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