At the April Junee Shire Council meeting, it was decided that Council ask Goldenfields Water to expedite increasing the pressure and availability of water in the Junee township and Junee Shire. This comes as Junee looks to expand and grow in the coming years.
General Manager, Michael Jackson, wrote on behalf of Council, saying they expect growth in three areas of Junee.
“These areas represent the considered, long-term strategic vision for residential and urban growth in our Shire. Realising that vision depends, fundamentally, on the capacity of water infrastructure to service those future development areas. Council therefore seeks Goldenfields Water’s assistance in ensuring that water supply infrastructure can support and enable the growth,” he wrote to Goldenfields.
“Council is increasingly concerned that inadequate water supply is actively inhibiting development and investment in the Shire. A recent direct illustration of this occurred at Council’s Ordinary Meeting of 17 March 2026, where Council was compelled to refuse Development Application DA2025/39 — a proposal for a 40-lot residential subdivision at 70 Kinvara Drive, Junee. The application was refused on the basis that reticulated water provision was not available to service future dwellings on the site. This is precisely the kind of outcome that Council is seeking to avoid, and it underscores the urgency of the matter.
“A further and more significant example involves a substantially larger 300-lot subdivision proposal at 192 Waterworks Road, Junee. Council understands from advice provided by Goldenfields Water that water supply can only be provided to the proposed Stage 1 area, representing approximately one-third of the total site area. The majority of this site, which has genuine potential for meaningful residential growth, cannot presently be serviced with reticulated water. This site represents the edge of the northwestern growth area for our township……and the large adjoining sites moving closer into town would be a major future growth area. This represents a significant constraint on the scale of development that can be delivered and is limiting Council’s ability to facilitate housing supply in the Shire.
“Council respectfully requests that Goldenfields Water prioritise the following as a matter of urgency:
• A review of water pressure and availability across the Junee township and Shire, with particular focus on the strategic growth areas identified;
• Investigation into what infrastructure upgrades or augmentation works are required to enable water supply to the growth areas on all three sides of the township.
• A pathway to providing reticulated water supply to the full area of 192 Waterworks Road to enable the complete proposed subdivision to proceed; and
• Engagement with Council on a joint infrastructure planning approach to ensure future development applications are not refused solely on the basis of inadequate water supply.
“Council values its relationship with Goldenfields Water and recognises the important role [the] organisation plays in the region. We are keen to work collaboratively to find solutions that support growth and investment in Junee Shire.”
Goldenfields replied with a letter of their own shortly after from Acting General Manager, Geoff Veneris, saying, “At present, GWCC confirms that there remains substantial land within the Junee township that can currently be serviced with compliant reticulated water supply infrastructure without the need for major augmentation works. These serviceable areas are generally located within elevations capable of being supplied from the existing system while maintaining GWCC’s adopted minimum service levels.
These areas represent a significant opportunity for future urban growth prior to the requirement for major regional infrastructure upgrades.
“GWCC also wishes to assure Council that significant strategic planning work is already underway…Portions of the recently proposed developments at Kinvara Drive and 192 Waterworks Road are currently outside the practical servicing capacity of the existing network infrastructure.
“As you would appreciate, GWCC is required to maintain adopted operating standards, including a minimum residual pressure of 12 metres head at the property connection point under normal operating conditions. Accordingly, portions of these elevated areas cannot presently achieve compliant service levels without significant infrastructure augmentation.
“Based on preliminary assessment, servicing these higher elevation areas would likely require substantial public infrastructure investment, including but not limited to:
• upsizing sections of existing trunk mains within Junee;
• delivery of new pump station infrastructure;
• construction of new rising mains and reticulation connections;
• establishment of an additional reservoir at an elevated location;
• reconfiguration of sections of the existing network; and
• associated land acquisition, environmental approvals and delivery costs.
“At present, the indicative cost of these augmentation works is anticipated to be significant, with just the reservoir alone estimated to be in the order of approximately $10-15 million.
“GWCC’s current strategic priority remains focused on maintaining reliable service delivery to existing customers and addressing infrastructure renewal and growth demands within areas currently capable of being serviced efficiently and sustainably.
“GWCC notes that similar regional water infrastructure constraints have previously been successfully addressed through joint State and Commonwealth funding opportunities. Recent augmentation projects undertaken in Wyalong and West Wyalong provide an example where external funding enabled significant improvements in network pressure and servicing capability.
Should future grant funding opportunities become available to support strategic growth infrastructure within Junee, GWCC would welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with JSC to advocate for and secure such funding.
“With specific regard to the proposed development at 192 Waterworks Road, GWCC confirms it is continuing to work collaboratively with the developer in relation to possible future reservoir siting and servicing options that may support additional elevated growth areas over time. However, it should be noted that any future servicing outcomes will remain subject to hydraulic modelling results, infrastructure feasibility, required service levels and funding availability.”
Jack Murray
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