Mumbil, Stuart Town and Yeoval will have clean, hygienic drinking water as part of a $1.25 billion regional water supply proposal by the Liberal-National Coalition, Dubbo MP Troy Grant announced Friday.
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A total of $110 million has been set aside to upgrade the water supply and sewerage programs in 71 communities including Mumbil, Stuart Town and Yeoval as well as Warren, Dunedoo and Coonabarabran, but that is just the beginning of the program, announced by Mr Grant and the Minister for Natural Resources, Land and Water, Kevin Humphries.
"$1.25 billion is the largest water infrastructure program that has ever been announced in regional NSW," Mr Humphries said.
Mr Grant said he had seen first-hand the state of water in Mumbil and Stuart Town which was "brown and corrosive" and responsible for damaging elements in kettles and dishwashers in a matter of months.
Mr Humphries said the investigation into catchments was another project that could have major dividends for Dubbo.
"We've set aside $10 million, money in the bank, to look at water storages, regulators along rivers like the Macquarie, which have previously been identified as catchments that need to sure up better water security and better water delivery.
The announcement came as the Labor candidate for Dubbo Stephen Lawrence came to Wellington saying it must stay as a standalone council and the consequences of a possible future merger with Dubbo and Narromine would be disastrous.
"Council is the biggest employer in town and job losses because of the amalgamation and the Fit For Future proposals will be devastating for Wellington. We don't support this," Mr Lawrence said.
"Labor doesn't support these mergers," he said.
"It's destructive and is penny pinching. The savings don't warrant a destruction of Wellington.
Independent candidate for Dubbo Col Hamilton, on a visit to Wellington, said his hometown Narromine and Wellington were under threat and warned they might not receive much from the state government in the future and that the mergers would force job losses for the small towns.
"Taking those local government jobs will hurt towns like Wellington and Narromine. Their kids go to school, they buy things in the town. It's a merger our towns can't afford," he said.
The fifth generation farmer said the Nationals had forgotten the farmers.
"I and a lot of farmers are so disappointed with the way the Nationals have represented us. Fully paid up members of the Nats won't vote for them anymore and wanted to vote informal. I will represent and stand up for them," Mr Hamilton said.
"They promised so much before the election, when they got in they gave us nothing and now their pork barrelling with loads before this election.
"The electricity privatisation is the thin edge of the wedge. It won't be long before it hurts out here," he added.
The Liberal National government went into caretaker mode on Friday.
Wellington said goodbye to its member for Orange Andrew Gee.
The local government LGA is now in the Dubbo electorate.
