'Neck-breaking' speed: Chaffey to Tamworth pipeline halfway complete

Half of the 18.2-kilometre pipeline has already been laid and despite the much welcomed rain, the project is still on track to finish on schedule.

With no inflows, the pipeline is expected to extend Tamworth's water supply until mid-2021.

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NSW Water Minister Melinda Pavey inspected the project on Thursday and said the drought had "taught us that we need to respect it and we need to be creative".

"This is a very creative solution that will ensure the water supply in the short term until this drought breaks, and it will have added benefits into the future," Ms Pavey said.

"It has been constructed in neck-breaking speed.

"The original briefing I had from Water NSW had the planned finish time for April, and whilst there has been some scattered showers, the good news, it's still April."

Tamworth mayor Col Murray said the council had a "strong working relationship" with the state government water agency.

"We are very, very comfortable in the position we find ourselves in now working through these emergency infrastructure pieces," Cr Murray said.

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said 30 local businesses had been involved in supplying the goods, with 20 of the 60-strong workforce also coming from the local community.

"This is great news for our-home grown businesses - we are facing an unprecedented drought and we need to get money moving with our local communities," Mr Anderson said.

"Projects like this pipeline are giving our local businesses a chance to tender for this important work and give these workers a chance to be part of a real game changer."

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