The Morrison-Joyce Government will commit up to $433 million in additional funding toward the construction of Dungowan Dam, reinforcing the importance of this region-building project.

Through the 2022-23 Budget, the Government has locked the money in to ensure the project gets built, pending finalisation of the business case, due later this year, and regulatory approvals.

This commitment takes the Australian Government’s total funding contribution toward Dungowan Dam and Pipeline to $675 million, with further funding coming from the New South Wales Government.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said Dungowan Dam was essential to securing Tamworth’s water security and delivering wealth.

“Dungowan Dam is a vital part of our water infrastructure program,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“Hells Gates, Urannah, Paradise, Rookwood Weir, Quipolly, Chaffey and Emu Swamp – from north to south, we are building dams. Water is wealth and a dam is a bank.

“In this uncertain geopolitical world, we must become as strong as possible as quickly as possible.

“The infrastructure that inspires the economic growth to underwrite our capacity to pay for our own Defence Force, our NDIS, our health, our education, and our pensions is water.

“That’s why we’ve put $433 million in additional funding on the table to build Dungowan Dam because we believe in the project and in what it will deliver for this region and our nation.”

Today’s announcement builds on other major water infrastructure investments the Government has made through the 2022-23 Budget, including:

• $5.4 billion towards Hells Gates Dam; and
• $483 million in additional funding towards Urannah Dam.

Since 2013, the Government has committed $3.5 billion to the National Water Grid Fund, our rolling 10- year water infrastructure program to fund projects that will deliver reliable, secure and affordable water to where it is needed.

To date, the Government has committed funding to around 150 water infrastructure construction, business case and research projects across Australia.