Dubbo Regional Council is searching for a solution to the non-potable pipeline project, that current mayor Mathew Dickerson has described as a “major failing” of the previous council.

The $5 million pipeline was to bring recycled water from the Dubbo sewage treatment plant into the city to replace non-potable groundwater used for irrigation over sporting fields, and to also take the groundwater to the John Gilbert Water Treatment Plant.

However, according to Cr Dickerson the previous council failed to get adequate approval from the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE), and as the sporting fields were over an aquifer, the pipeline was unable to be used for its intended purpose.

“Essentially, they went ahead and built the pipeline, and what they were going to put into the pipeline was never approved by the state government,” Cr Dickerson said.

“For the previous council to go ahead without DPE approval is just unbelievable.

“Council voted on that – it’s a major failing of the previous council.

“If a resident built a house without approval, people would be saying ‘hey you can’t do that’.”

Council noted at the last meeting “the advice from regulators that approval to utilise treated effluent on playing fields that are directly above an aquifer used for drinking water supply will not be forthcoming”.

“We’ve resolved to instruct the CEO to look into what else we can use that pipeline for,” Cr Dickerson said.

“We want to get some data on that first, and the CEO will provide an update to Council on the possible alternative use of the pipeline.”

The pipeline was finished in 2021 and, at the time, state Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders said the project would “go a long way towards providing a sustainable resource to the city going forward”.

However, in the past week, Mr Saunders has expressed his disappointment that state government money had been “wasted” on the project due to council error.

He hoped the current council would find a use for the pipeline that would benefit the whole community.