Nymboida Power Station now owned by Clarence Valley Council

The Nymboida Hydro Power Station finally has a new owner after years of discussions between two local councils and Essential Energy.

The Nymboida Hydro Power Station, including all its assets and water licenses, is now officially owned by Clarence Valley Council.

The Clarence Valley finally has control of its water supply after a landmark transfer of ownership.

As of Friday the Nymboida Hydro Power Station, including all its assets and water licenses, is now officially owned by Clarence Valley Council.

“By purchasing the facility from Essential Energy, we are ensuring this major infrastructure asset is secured to safeguard our regional water supply,” Clarence Valley Council general manager Ashley Lindsay said.

“The Nymboida Hydro Power Scheme includes infrastructure that is essential to extract water from the Nymboida River into the Shannon Creek Dam.”

A bridge spans the Nymboida river, key to the Coffs Harbour and Clarence Valley water supplies.

Talks about who should own the site had been bubbling away since the Nymboida Power Station was damaged by flood in 2013 and Essential Energy signalled that they wanted to sell it.

Mr Lindsay said that while the power station was no longer operational, the purchase by the council had secured the water infrastructure and extraction licences that were essential for the security of the drinking water supply in the Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour regions.

Coffs Harbour City Council will also contribute funds towards the asset purchase.

“The dam has a storage capacity of 30,000ML and is the main water storage for both Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour councils,” Mr Lindsay said.

The Nymboida Hydro Power Scheme was built by Clarence River County Council between 1924 and 1936.

It has not been operational since 2013.

Construction started on the Nymboida Hydro-Electric Scheme in June 1923 and it was operational by November 1924.

The current water licence only permits water to be extracted for drinking water purposes, meaning it won’t be possible to reopen the power station for generating electricity or release high flows down Goolang Creek for white water rafting and canoeing.

Clarence Valley Council will also be responsible for constructing a fish ladder at the Nymboida Weir as a part of the deal.

“We are committed to the health of the waterway, this includes maintaining environmental flows and ensuring the Nymboida River remains a healthy ecosystem,” Mr Lindsay said.