Progress for Yarrie Lake upgrades

The Yarrie Lake facilities have been receiving some serious upgrades, including the installation of a new electrical transformer, meter boxes, and wiring upgrades, and the completion of the Yarrie Lake bore testing, signalling it’s all systems go.

The popular spot for water skiing and motor camping could be buzzing by the summer of 2024 if all things go to plan, including a works permit for the new bore which will help top up the lake for recreational use.

Yarrie Lake is a major tourist attraction for the Narrabri Shire.

The Bore Committee helped to facilitate the test bore, and water experts have confirmed the water quality of the artesian water is adequate to start pumping.

“Bore testers found that the amount of water we require is more than adequate without hurting the aquifers,” said Yarrie Lake Flora and Fauna trust chair Lester Kelly, who also acknowledged that the Trust was only there to care for and enhance the area.

“The bore is only here to top up the lake, not to fill the lake.”

The new bore will take one month to drill and complete.

The bore will be used to pump when there are 300 megalitres of water in the lake, a “full” height of 400 megalitres is required to be used by boats and for recreational purposes.

In more exciting news for the popular camping area, the onsite wiring also received an upgrade, including new fuse boxes.

The Yarrie Lake Trust received funds from Crown Lands NSW to facilitate the major upgrade, and the addition of 15 powered sites for caravanners, which will come from a 50 kilo Volt-amperes transformer that has just finished being installed.

“Part of the problem was that the 20 kVA transformer wasn’t big enough to do powered sites, and the power out here was too dangerous,” said Mr Kelly.

“The wiring and fuses were very old, causing safety concerns.”

The power upgrade will also allow more powered caravan sites to be added near the current amenities block, should more be needed.

“The benefit is that until we had the wiring upgrade, we couldn’t put solar power in, because the wiring and meter boxes weren’t up to the standard required,” said Mr Kelly.

A site has also been picked for a new amenities block and will have three showers and three toilets each for men and women as well as a disabled bathroom and laundry.

“We also wanted to run power to the site for our new amenities block and down to the bore which has all been done, as well as the new barbecue area,” said Mr Kelly.

Hofman’s Electrical installed the new transformer and will also install solar power for the site.

Part of the money received from the Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development Program was for 20kw of solar power and batteries.

The Yarrie Lake Flora and Fauna Trust has also agreed to add 9.4kw of solar power.

“We have had to make a new structure facing north to house the new solar panels,” said Mr Kelly.

“Yarrie Lake Trust would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Wee Waa and Narrabri Chambers of Commerce for their continued support.

“As well as the Bore Committee, who have done a great job in trying circumstances.

“They are doing their best to deliver everything the grant stated, the test bore and testing, solar power, pump, and water megaliters.”

“The Bore Committee has had the test bore drilled, mapped, and test pumped.

“All results have been very positive, which we will happily talk about after we are through the process of securing a works permit from NSW Water.”