WATER SECURITY has been a decades-long problem for residents in Murrurundi, but the opening of a brand new pipeline has brought bucket loads of relief to the town.
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The $14 million project was officially opened on Friday, and the town immediately dropped from some of the harshest water restrictions in the state, to Level 2.
The pipeline will pump two million litres of water per day from Glenbawn Dam at Scone through to Murrurundi - a stark contrast from the past 18 months, when water arrived by the truck load.
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Member for the Upper Hunter Michael Johnsen said the pipeline would change the lives of locals.
"It provides long-term water security for the residents of Murrurundi, something that they've never had before," he said on Friday.
And residents are already lapping up the benefits of relaxed water restrictions.
"I spoke to a resident this morning who said she had a wonderful long hot shower this morning, and she was very happy about it," Mr Johnsen said.
The residents have had to put up with Level 6 restrictions for close to two years.
Upper Hunter Shire Council's mayor Wayne Bedggood said the residents have showed unbreakable spirit throughout troubled times.
"The residents of Murrurundi ... have been absolutely superb throughout this, they have put up with a record-breaking drought, hot weather, and they've been on the most severe restrictions you can have without having no water, they've been on those for almost two years," he said.
The pipeline links up with the pipeline connecting Glenbawn Dam to Scone, and carries the precious resource to towns along a 40km route, ending up in Murrurundi.