Wentworth Shire Council is seeking feedback on the Mobile Black Spot Program, an Australian Government initiative that invests in telecommunications infrastructure to improve mobile coverage and competition across Australia.
Residents of Wentworth Shire are encouraged to provide feedback on telecommunication black spots throughout the region, with the feedback period closing 4:59pm, Tuesday 04 February 2025.
Wentworth Shire Council is committed to being a child safe organisation, implementing the Child Safe Standards to keep children and young people safe.
Council’s new main library has by design created a child safe physical and online environment offering a balance between visibility and children’s privacy, creative play and other activities.
It’s been a great setting for programs over the school holidays.
You can read more about the Child Safe Standards on the Office of the Children’s Guardian website.
The Buronga Landfill site is currently undergoing a large expansion project. The aim is to ensure that Wentworth Shire has adequate space and facilities going into the future. The current site will operate as normal during this time, although there may be some minor disruptions to service during certain works.
NSW TrainLink need your feedback on proposed changes to coach routes and timetables!
Based on community feedback, NSW TrainLink is proposing improvements to routes and timetables to better connect you to where you need to go, when you need to go.
With new days and times of service, new stops, new and improved routes, have your say and let NSW TrainLink know your thoughts on coach services. These proposed changes are expected to come into effect in mid-2026.
Where possible, your feedback will be used to inform future changes.
Visit: www.haveyoursay.transport.nsw.gov.au/trainlink-coach-network-review for more information and to see detail on proposed changes for the routes you use.
Please see below flyer for TAFE NSW Coomealla Campus, including courses on offer for the first Semester, 2025. Along with these course listings are hundreds of online and virtual courses available for those wishing to further their education at www.tafensw.edu.au.
Per and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals used in various industrial and consumer products for their resistance to heat, stains, grease and water. PFAS are termed “forever chemicals” due to their persistence and slow breakdown in the environment.
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines provide standards for safe drinking water. Current guidelines ensure water safety for PFAS, with future stricter limits under consultation.
The NSW Government rigorously assesses treated water to ensure water supplies comply with existing guidelines. For more details go to NSW Government PFAS page.
Recent water testing by Wentworth Shire Council (December 2024) showed PFAS levels significantly below the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines’ thresholds, confirming the water is safe for consumption.
Water testing occurred in all three of Wentworth Shire Council’s Filtered Water Supplies:
| Characteristic | Current ADWG value | Proposed ADWG value | Result for all sites | Meeting current ADWG value (%) |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) | 0.560 µg/L | 0.2 µg/L | <0.001 µg/L | 100 |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) | Sum of PFOS and PFHxS 0.07 µg/L | 0.004 µg/L | <0.001 µg/L | 100 |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) | As above | 0.03 µg/L | <0.001 µg/L | 100 |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) | No current guideline value | 1 µg/L | <0.001 µg/L | 100 |
These results align with the NSW Government’s findings that most water supplies, including regional ones, are well within acceptable PFAS levels.
Water test results indicate that PFAS concentration in all of Wentworth’s Filtered Water Supplies are far below both the current and proposed Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, ensuring compliance with environmental health standards and continued community confidence in drinking water quality.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water released the following media release on 17 December 2024. For further information, visit nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/dcceew
Investing in safer water for Wentworth Shire
Locals and holidaymakers in Wentworth, Buronga, Gol Gol, and Dareton are one step closer to locking in safer and more secure water thanks to $472,000 in co-funding from the NSW Government and Wentworth Shire Council.
The investment will enable Council to identify the best options for upgrading critical infrastructure that delivers both drinking and non-drinking water to the four towns.
It’s a significant move towards boosting water quality, reliability, and drought resilience for the region’s 4,100 people and supporting the growth of outback tourism in an area where the Darling and Murray Rivers meet.
The new funding includes:
$161,250 from the NSW Government and $53,750 from Council to deliver an options study and concept design for upgrading Wentworth’s water treatment plant and raw water pump station
$192,750 from the NSW Government and $64,250 from Council to deliver an options study and concept design for upgrading Gol Gol’s water treatment plant and the raw water pump station supplying Dareton and Namatjira
Currently, Wentworth relies on a single pump station to deliver both drinking and non-drinking water to its 1,100 residents and a growing number of visitors.
But the ageing infrastructure, which was operating at its peak during the early 1990s, is now in need of a major upgrade to meet modern water treatment standards and demands, particularly during dry conditions.
Meanwhile, in nearby Gol Gol, the water treatment plant services about 3,000 people in the town and in neighbouring Buronga, Dareton and the indigenous community of Namatjira.
But parts of the plant are in dire need of replacement or repair, and the infrastructure has reached its capacity so will be unable to meet the towns’ water needs as they grow.
The raw water pump station delivering non-drinking water also requires an urgent upgrade.
The new funding will allow Council to launch detailed investigations across four schemes to find solutions and develop early planning works, including environmental reviews, geotechnical investigations, site surveys, and concept designs.
Options will aim to enhance water treatment process reliability, efficiency, and automation, reduce operating costs, and extend the life of major equipment.
The development work is due to be completed by June 2025.
The investment is the latest from the NSW Government’s Safe and Secure Water Program which supports more than $1 billion worth of projects across the state, with over 260 projects in various stages of delivery.
NSW DCCEEW Executive Director of Development Lisa Hingerty said:
“This is about safeguarding water for Wentworth, Buronga, Gol Gol, Dareton and Namatjira, and it’s vital we get the ball rolling on long-overdue infrastructure upgrades.
“This investment will help Council examine all the challenges for these five communities and find the best remedies to ensure water infrastructure is fit for the 21st century.
“We want to support the region into the future and as more and as more visitors come spend their holidays in Wentworth Shire. I’m delighted to see this work get going.”
Wentworth Shire Mayor Daniel Linklater said:
“We are pleased to partner with the NSW Government to secure the future water supplies.
“The upgrade of pump stations and water treatment plants is essential to ensure the continued delivery of safe and reliable water to our residents and visitors.
“This much-needed infrastructure upgrade addresses our aging assets and represents a significant achievement in collaboration with the NSW Government, securing a sustainable future for our community.
“This funding is crucial for initiating preliminary assessments, which will enable us to develop and implement effective long-term solutions.”