Yarrie Lake top up bore: Appeal raised $80,000 for bore project

A $450,000 grant has been awarded to Narrabri and Wee Waa Chambers of Commerce to sink a test bore at Yarrie Lake with a view to providing ‘top up’ water to keep the lake level up in the dry times.

Yarrie Lake is already long established as a popular destination for skiers from the region, local district day visitors as well as caravanners who camp longer term in its idyllic surrounds.

The lake is one of Narrabri Shire’s important tourism assets and generates income for Wee Waa and Narrabri businesses.

The grant, from the Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development Program, for the ‘Yarrie Lake Water Security Project’ is ‘to access groundwater to ensure safe and usable water levels at Yarrie Lake to underpin recreational tourism and create jobs during the delivery phase.’

The $450,000 grant will complement $80,000 raised by the Collins Park Lighting Committee in a highly successful community fund raising effort which drew strong support. Those funds were targeted at a test bore for Yarrie Lake.

“The test bore will be sunk with the hope that we will be able to keep the lake topped up, particularly in winter,” said Narrabri Chamber of Commerce president Russell Stewart, who is also president of the Collins Park Lighting Committee.

“It is certainly not designed to fill the lake, it will never do that.

“It is just designed to establish if suitable water is available so the lake can hold a level so its ready for summer.

“We will have a meeting this week to take the project further,” Mr Stewart said.

“Narrabri Chamber of Commerce applied for the funding on behalf of Wee Waa Chamber of Commerce.

“Narrabri and Wee Waa chambers have a really strong relationship and work together in a lot of things. The Yarrie Lake project is a shared community venture.

“There was a general awareness of what we wanted to do and when the opportunity came to apply for funding for Wee Waa, not for Narrabri, the Wee Waa Chamber was keen to apply but as they are not incorporated it was agreed Narrabri Chamber would apply for the funds.

“The money will go towards the test bore, there will be a tender process for the work.

“The test bore will be put down and from the results a decision will be made as to what happens from there on.

“The bore is exploratory – the hope is that it will be a gusher – but it is only a test bore at this point,” Mr Stewart said. “If we can keep water in the lake it will add to the area’s attractiveness to tourists, with benefits for the wider shire community.”

The Collins Park Lights Committee which raised the initial $80,000, was formed as a community group several years ago and notched up successes in securing lighting at number one oval, thanks to its fundraising initiatives and significant contributions from Santos.