PB role: identification and assessment of water purchase options, investigation of interstate water trading, assessment of commercial options for storage

In 2007, ACTEW (the Australian Capital Territory’s electricity and water authority) advised the ACT government on a range of future water supply options to provide long-term water security for the ACT. One of ACTEW’s recommendations was that the government should consider an additional water supply that does not rely on existing catchments.

The Tantangara Transfer Option was one possible strategy identified to provide this new water supply. In 2007, ACTEW engaged PB to further investigate the feasibility of this option, which involves purchasing water from downstream of the ACT, storing it in Tantangara Reservoir, and then delivering it to the ACT via the Upper Murrumbidgee River.

Since commencing the project, PB has:

• overseen and provided strategic and technical input to water modelling to determine the optimum volume of the water purchase
• explored water purchase options and recommended a preferred option
• liaised with Snowy Hydro Limited and the New South Wales Government regarding the storage and release of water from Tantangara Dam and the interstate water transfer
• provided strategic advice to ACTEW on how to proceed with the option.