Lostock Dam to Glennies Creek Dam Pipeline with Paterson River Connection
Project overview
The NSW Government has paused the proposal to build the Lostock Dam to Glennies Creek Dam pipeline in the Upper Hunter, along with Hunter Water’s proposed Paterson River pump station and water treatment plant, due to costs reaching $1.5 billion.
Planning work to date has shown that the project could increase the region’s water supply by making better use of existing dams. It would boost water security for Hunter Water customers in the future.
The project may become a cost-effective option in the future if the Hunter Valley’s demand for water grows, especially the reliance on water from Upper Hunter dams.
If, in the future, the NSW Government decides to progress the Lostock Dam to Glennies Creek Dam Pipeline project, Hunter Water would also consider re-evaluating the Paterson River Connection. This would include a review of all planning work completed to date, including decisions on the preferred locations for key infrastructure.
Our water security priorities are now completing the Belmont Desalination Plant, and dam safety upgrades to Grahamstown and Chichester Dams.
More information about this project is also available from the NSW Government:
Key dates
23 April 2025
Current status
The NSW Government has deferred the project. The Final Business Case was completed by the Department of Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water and Hunter Water. The business case shows the project would cost about $1.5 billion and does not stack up in the current economic climate.
Completion of the Final Business Case included the following assessments and activities:
- engaging with First Nations people, landholders, community, industry bodies and other government agencies to discuss the projects and seek feedback on potential impacts, benefits and opportunities
- conducting environmental, social, land use and heritage investigations to inform potential infrastructure options in the Hunter region
- undertaking hydrological and estuary modelling to understand the impacts, benefits and possible effects of the proposed infrastructure options on the current water systems and catchments
- developing preliminary engineering concept designs.
About the project
This project was identified as a key action for improving resilience of the Hunter Valley’s water supply systems in the Greater Hunter Regional Water Strategy and in the Lower Hunter Water Security Plan. It would create the opportunity to optimise existing infrastructure and take advantage of variations in rainfall distribution and dam storage capacities.
If built in the future, the project would benefit the Hunter region by:
- increasing water availability
- making better use of existing water infrastructure
- improving water reliability and supply to existing and future agriculture, industries and towns across the entire region
- providing long-term regional water security in response to climate change
- increasing the region’s drought resilience.