Work has begun to replace two aging pump stations supplying drinking water to Cobar.

The NSW government says the stations at Nyngan and Hermidale will have remote monitoring and boost operator safety under the roughly $50 million project.

They said contractor SRG Global Utilities (formerly Diona) is expected to complete both stations by mid-2027.

“By replacing the old stations at Nyngan and Hermidale with modern facilities, we are ensuring water can continue to flow safely and reliably now and into the future," NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson said.

"Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to meet with Council and visit the sites in person to gain a better understanding of the project and the importance of the pump stations in supporting safe and secure water for Cobar."

The Australian government is providing about $26 million for the project, while their NSW counterparts are forking out around $23 million.  

The soon-to-be-former pump site in Bogan shire. [IMAGE: NSW Government]

Cobar does not have its own water source and relies on two 130-kilometre parallel pipelines to bring supply from Nyngan.

The older line was built in 1964 and suffers from increasing failures due to corrosion, according to a report released by the NSW government in 2025. 

The report said the younger line, built in 1983, is experiencing some "localised" corrosion and occasional failures, but is in good condition.

It estimates a remaining service life of up to 50 years for the 1983 line, and that continued maintenance of both pipes will secure safe supply for more than a decade.

Work to replace 30 kilometres of the 1964 line near Nyngan was completed in 2018, however the government paused plans for the remaining 100 kilometres because of projected costs.

The report estimated that the "nominal" cost for the pipeline would be $329 million.

Now the Cobar Water Board, a statutory body responsible for maintaining water supply in the area, is spending $300,000 for a separate review of the pipes' condition.

Board secretary Peter Vlatko says he hopes the report from water consultant Sequana will persuade the NSW government to invest in the upgrades.

"It's an expensive exercise to prove a point, but it is important that we do this so that we can justify the requirements for this pipeline to be upgraded," said Mr Vlatko, who is also the General Manager of Cobar Shire Council.

"We'll have a proper assessment done independently.

"We're still committed to ensure that the government gets all the information they need to help us resolve this once and for all."

He said assessors will look at about 100 spots along the pipeline.

He also said the review is scheduled to begin in February 2026 and be completed by late February-early March.