Landmark investment to secure Albury's future

Council this week endorsed the draft AlburyCity Water and Wastewater Master Plans which will provide intergenerational security and future-proof Albury’s growth through the planning and delivery of critical water and wastewater infrastructure.

In preparation for this growth, AlburyCity has struck a landmark agreement with Visy to buy a large parcel of vacant land east of the Hume Highway at Ettamogah.

Albury Mayor, Kevin Mack, said the investment was about taking advantage of a unique opportunity to futureproof the city and aligns with Council’s long-term commitment to secure Albury’s future and support the city’s Regional Job Precinct (RJP).

“We are one of Australia’s fastest-growing regional cities. People want to live, work and invest here, but we need affordable infrastructure that ensures we can deliver essential services for them, while supporting sustainable growth across our whole community,” said Mayor Mack.

“This acquisition will enable the delivery of critical wastewater infrastructure and is significantly more cost-effective than other alternatives considered in the draft masterplans.

“It opens the door for more sustainable opportunities, such as the use of recycled water for public space irrigation, and aligns with our strategic vision and financial responsibility to support the ongoing growth of our city.”

The draft AlburyCity Water and Wastewater Master Plans ensure that essential services will be in place to support Albury’s expanding community, allowing the city to grow in a sustainable and planned way, according to AlburyCity CEO, Frank Zaknich.

“This acquisition paves the way for the construction of an additional wastewater treatment plant north of the city to cater for the expected growth of Thurgoona-Wirlinga, and as identified by the NSW Government’s Master Plan for our Regional Job Precinct and AlburyCity's draft Water and Wastewater Master Plans,” said Mr Zaknich.

The 777-ha strategic purchase is the most significant in AlburyCity’s history and is a crucial step in planning and investing in the critical infrastructure needed to cater for a projected doubling of the city’s population in the next 50 years.

Visy originally acquired the land as part of purchase of the former newsprint mill from Norske Skog in 2019 and determined it to be surplus to needs late last year. Visy retains ownership of the paper mill infrastructure and western portion of the land.

Visy’s Director of Corporate Development, Lynda Cheng said the company welcomed the engagement with Council and were pleased to secure a deal that worked for all parties.

“Visy welcomes the opportunity to work with Albury City Council to enable strategic use of the site for the betterment of Albury’s future,” she said.

Funding for this critical strategic land acquisition is provided for in Council’s Wastewater (Sewer) Fund current cash reserves specifically for this purpose.

Future wastewater infrastructure development funding will be supported by a combination of:

• increased revenues attributed to the city’s growth
• infrastructure contributions aligned to Council’s Water and Wastewater Master Plans
• grant funding from NSW and Australian governments and
• loan funding aligned to Council’s debt servicing capacity.

Further detail is provided in Council’s draft Long Term Financial Plan and draft Water and Wastewater Master Plans.

Mayor Mack said AlburyCity recognised the financial challenges faced by local government and was committed to maximising value for every dollar spent.