Premier Gladys Berejiklian was in Bega on Wednesday, October 31, to announce the funding alongside Bega MP Andrew Constance.

Under the NSW government’s Safe and Secure Water Program, BVSC has been awarded more than $10million in funding for the design and construction of the Brogo-Bermagui Water Treatment Plant.

A further $15.2million has been allocated to undertake a scoping study and design and construct the Bega-Tathra Water Treatment Plant.

The news will come as a huge relief to the many residents who have been petitioning the council and Mr Constance for answers to the regular appearance of brown water from local taps.

Mayor Kristy McBain, in thanking the government for their “wow” of an offer, said she knew of many residents who would be “doing a very happy dance about now”.

“I know of a number of Bermagui accommodation providers who are going to be happy they never have to put up a boil water notice again,” she said.

“I know of residents in Bega, Kalaru and Tathra who are going to be happy they will be able to put their washing through and get white clothes back out, or turn on taps for children to take a bath and think o’h my god where am I?’.”

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A water filtration plant is already under construction for the Bemboka region, but the $25million will now allow the council to follow up with similar systems for residents using water from the Brogo-Bermagui system as well as Bega-Tathra.

Cr McBain said for the state government to commit to this funding “shows confidence in our team to deliver the project”.

“For us to deliver filtration on our own would be a mammoth task and taken years and years to deliver.

“Now we will get to say you not only have pristine water to swim in, you have pristine water to drink.”

More to come