The Manilla community is a step closer to seeing construction start on their town’s new multi-million dollar water treatment plant after Tamworth Regional Council issued tender documents to the preferred contractors.

Four contractors, previously shortlisted through an expression of interest process, have been invited to submit their tenders before the end of August.

It is expected Council will select a successful tenderer in November with construction to get underway before the end of March 2020.

The project includes construction of the new water treatment plant on a 34-hectare site Council owns between Kanangra and Reservoir roads, a new pump station and intake on the Manilla River and an upgrade to the intake pump station on the Namoi River. New pipelines will also be constructed from each intake to the new plant, following a route mostly along the road reserves.

The project is the biggest water infrastructure investment in Manilla for more than 50 years. State Government funding through the Safe and Secure Water Program represents a significant contribution towards the project but Tamworth Regional Council will fund the majority of the cost.

Tamworth Regional Council Manager Project and Services, Mick McGufficke, said the new plant will provide the Manilla community with a more reliable supply of treated water and deliver improvements in the quality of the water.

“The existing plant in Court Street was well ahead of its time when it started operating in the 1930s but it is now very antiquated,” he said.

“In about two years we expect to have a new plant which will result in improved water security for Manilla because it will have the capability to treat the different qualities of the water found in either the Manilla River or the Namoi River or a combination of both.”