A TOTAL injection of between five and 10 million dollars to the local economy is being predicted as a result of the construction phase of the new 250 metre-wide spillway at Copeton Dam.

The spillway is part of the $60 million upgrade to enable the dam to withstand extreme floods and ensure it meets standards set by the NSW Dams Safety Committee and is one of seven throughout regional NSW funded by the NSW Government.

Macmahon Contractors recently completed construction on the Burrendong upgrade near Dubbo, the Blowering Dam upgrade near Tumut and was awarded the Copeton contract in April. That contract has seen 10 Macmahon staff members move to Inverell for the term of the project, some with their families.

The site has been established in preparation for the works, which officially started yesterday.

The new State Park administration building (the Northcott Centre) and other facilities have also been officially re-opened after being relocated to make way for the new spillway.

NSW Parliamentary secretary for Natural Resources, Troy Grant, said the four bay, 12 metre-deep, fuse-plug spillway will allow Copeton Dam to safely pass more water in the event of an extreme flood.

“The new State Park facilities also look fantastic and I would encourage people to think about visiting the dam, testing out the new play equipment and barbecues and seeing how it has changed,” Mr Grant said.

© 2011 Inverell Times

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