While we are lucky enough to be currently under a La Nina weather pattern, we all know that it is only a matter of time before El Nino returns with the Climate Council recently emphasising that we are more vulnerable to extreme weather events being fuelled by climate change.

As far as I can determine we have done nothing substantial to stop us heading straight back into the critical water situation that we faced in 2019 should the weather turn against us.

Our long- term water use is around 7000 megalitres per year although we have been more conservative during the drought, council imposed water restrictions and a more water conscious community reducing it to 5000 megalitres.

Council documentation on its website concludes that our, admittedly unique, stormwater harvesting program can already provide up to 1300 megalitres per year with a possible expansion up to 2100 megalitres. However, during severe droughts this source rapidly declines.

Likewise, the Macquarie pipeline to Orange can add a further 20-22 megalitres per day but only if we are allowed to pump.

Again, drought places a major limit on this. Initially pumping had to cease if the Macquarie river flow at Long Point dropped below 108 megalitres per day. The government eventually agreed to drop this during the latter stages of the drought to 38 megalitres per day with the expectation it would be lifted back to 119 megalitres per day when the drought broke. As of the 28 January, 2021, the river flow at Long Point is just 27 megalitres per day and that is in the middle of a La Nina with well above average rainfall for 12 months.

While I do not have the documentation to substantiate the following, a reliable source who sat on the original committee to investigate the viability of this pipeline claims that the initial modelling of this scheme showed that it would only be viable if pumping commenced when the Orange water supply fell to 80 percent of capacity.

I presume this was linked back to the fact that if you waited until it was too dry the water would not be there to pump. It is my understanding that in the lead up to the 2019 water shortages pumping was not considered until our storages fell to 40 percent capacity.

As stated in a letter to the editor of this paper, earlier this month, the Covid epidemic appears to be creating a population shift from the city to the bush.

Fear of the disease, increasing congestion and the newly-found ability to be able to work from home are all driving this. That this is happening in Orange is backed up by a dramatic increase in the demand for homes and a noticeable shortage of rental accommodation let alone the very obvious increase in local traffic and parking shortages.

As asked in this letter, and I repeat, what strategic plans do Orange City Council and our local state and commonwealth representatives have to not only ensure a reliable water supply for the current Orange rate payers but to cater for this significant growth in population?

We cannot forget that we live on top of the hill!

Our water catchment area is simply not big enough to supply our needs and therefore the most obvious solution is to pump it in from a reliable source.

With the proposal to increase Wyangala's capacity by 650 gigalitres over the next four years (Orange's total storage capacity is just 25 gigalitres) surely we should be seriously investigating a pipeline to give, not just Orange, but Bathurst and Cabonne, a guaranteed water supply into the future.

And this time let's do it properly.

Along with the pipeline, consideration must be given to an associated solar/wind turbine power generation plant to run the pumping system and eliminate an expensive ongoing cost to ratepayers.

Governments at state and federal levels are looking to fund major infrastructure projects.

I just hope our councillors have the wisdom and wherewithal to pursue such a scheme and our political representatives can demonstrate that they have some influence on their respective governments.