5th November 2026   

Right Call on Tamworth Water 

The NSW Water Minister has rejected a plan to build a pipeline from Keepit Dam to Tamworth, which threatened to draw down water that belongs to communities downstream. 

The Member for Barwon, Roy Butler, has congratulated Water Minister Rose Jackson for her commonsense decision.  

“I have been making the case against this fundamentally unfair pipeline proposal for some time, and I’m thrilled that Water Minister Rose Jackson has listened and decided to act,” said Mr Butler. 

“Although the Preliminary Business Case had recommended the proposed Keepit pipeline, a Full Business Case was going to cost $13.6 million, and the final project was costed at over $340 million.  

“Meanwhile, there’s already a perfectly good pipeline from Chaffey Dam to Tamworth which doubles the water available to Tamworth during periods of low flow,” said Mr Butler. “The pipeline isn’t being used as much as it could be for purely administrative reasons.” 

“Minister Jackson says she will direct Water NSW to start working on the necessary approvals so the Chaffey pipeline can be used more of the time, solving Tamworth’s water issues,” said Mr Butler. 

Mr Butler says downstream communities can now rest easy. 

“Much of the economy around Narrabri and Wee Waa relies on irrigated water, so the prospect of losing access to water from Keepit Dam during drought was stirring up a lot of concern downstream,” said Mr Butler. 

“I thank the Water Minister for putting these concerns to bed,” said Mr Butler.