Residents in a western New South Wales town are demanding answers as a pipe connected to nowhere marks a failed $4-million government project to droughtproof its water supply.
The project would have connected Nyngan to bore water in times of drought, but it ran out of money halfway through construction after the cost blew out by an extra $4.7 million.
The state government has given no assurances that it will fund the rest of the project.
A Department of Planning and Environment spokesperson said the grants program that funded the project had also run out of money.
"The [department] liaised with [the] council in early March to advise that the drought program, which supported this project, is now fully committed," the spokesperson said in a statement.
Bogan Shire mayor Glen Neill said the project blew out from $4 million to $8.7 million while the council waited for approval from the then NSW water minister Kevin Anderson.
Cr Neill said the council had sought clarity over whether it would even be allowed to pump from the bore under Water Sharing Plan rules but received no response from the former water minister.
Mr Anderson declined to comment.
Cr Neill said the council was turning to the state Labor government to give pumping approval and fund the rest of the project.
"We don't know what we can do, and we don't know if we're going to get any funding to do it," he said.
"We're in limbo."
The ABC repeatedly asked new Water Minister Rose Jackson if she would fund the rest of the project, but received no response.
Water security uncertain
The bore was part of the Nyngan Cobar Water Security Project, which was jointly funded by the state and federal governments in partnership with the local government.
The back-up bore would have ensured the town would still have tap water if the Macquarie River dried up.
The town narrowly avoided running out of drinking water during the last drought when Burrendong Dam dried up and the river levels fell.
Other dam and pipe plans under the water security project have also stalled and blown their budgets.
Glen Berwick, who runs Nyngan's Australian Hotel, said the region's agricultural and mining industries relied on water security.
He said many of his patrons were farmers or mine workers who stopped showing up for drinks when the work dried up.
"People stopped spending," he said.
"That side of the community didn't have disposable cash.
"They weren't coming in of an afternoon for a beer.
"I guess they were worried about the future."
The image of an eerily quiet main street is burned into the memory of Annette Wherritt, who runs the Bogan Coffee Shop.
She said many farmers didn't come into town during the drought since they had no money to spend.
"During the drought it was very quiet — no action around, no locals in town for people to speak to," Ms Wherritt said.
"It affects our town, our shire, it affects everyone in general."
