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The ACT government delivered 35,000 litres of non-potable water to Tharwa on Thursday as the village faces unprecedented dry conditions. The village of 13 houses, on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River about 25 kilometres south of Canberra's city centre, relies on a community run non-potable water supply while residents' rain-fed tanks provide drinking water. The river has stopped flowing in places and locals have had to buy in more drinking water as their tanks begin to run dry. Minister for Police and Emergency Services Mick Gentleman said the water supplied the village's main tanks. "These tanks supply water to the adjacent Rural Fire Service shed at Tharwa. Residents can also use it for firefighting and other non-potable uses such as toilets and washing machines," he said. ACT Parks and Conservation cleared river sediment that had built up around the foot valve where water is drawn from the river into the system. "The cost was around $750, covered through the ACT Parks and Conservation Service budget. The ACT government will remain in contact with Tharwa residents and continue to provide assistance as needed," Mr Gentleman said. A spokesman for Mr Gentleman said it was the first delivery of its kind. Tharwa Community Association president Kevin Jeffery said he appreciated the effort and had locked off half the water supplied in case of fire. "It's a day's water supply to be honest and today the river is too dry to [take] anymore," he said. Mr Jeffery said residents had stopped watering their gardens and the community could ask for more water if it needed to. Water issues continue to plague the village, which has fought against a proposed domestic firefighting water supply since January that would sink a bore and pump water to hydrants. Residents in September described a months-long "farce" over the design and location of the supply, which they said would have a negative effect on the village. An ACT Legislative Assembly inquiry into the proposed water supply for Tharwa, which received tripartisan support after it was moved by Liberal member for Brindabella Andrew Wall in October, heard earlier this month rural firefighters have not used the village's supply for years. Southern ACT Volunteer Bushfire Brigade captain Dave Pennock told the hearing at the Tharwa Village Hall the community-owned supply was "very old and at any point it could collapse and fall over". "It is falling over now. We have not used it ourselves for filling up tankers for years," he said. Mr Pennock said the water supply in the village did help property owners defend against bushfires, which was the reason the village was saved during the 2003 Canberra bushfires. Tharwa Community Association treasurer Janet Flint told the hearing the community had been raising money to overhaul its water system. "Obviously, the tanks up there are not sufficient. We would look at that. But at what point is it our responsibility? At what point is it [the government's] responsibility? We are ratepayers and we are happy to do it," she said. "I am happy to charge the locals for what we have got. But we run it as a no-cost, not-for-profit thing. And we just do it. But we are only looking after half the village. The rest of the village are having to look after themselves as well." READ MORE: Senior design manager at the Environment, Protection and Sustainable Development directorate Adam Azzopardi told the hearing it would cost more than $2 million to provide water to the community supply. The proposed cost for the separate firefighting supply was $950,000, according to a previous development application. Transport Canberra and City Services withdrew its development application on Tuesday, and Mr Gentleman and City Services Minister Chris Steel wrote to the Tuggeranong Community Council this week to confirm a new application would be lodged in the new year after further consultation. "We wish to reiterate that the ACT government is committed to working with the local Tharwa community to achieve the best and safest outcome for residents. We thank you for your feedback to date and look forward to continuing work together on this important issue," the ministers said. Mr Jeffery said the village wanted the chance to co-design a new system, not just consultation. "It's hard work to do co-design, I'll admit that. but we're an unusual community that could do it ourselves, but we would like some help," he said. Issues with the village's water supply were identified as early as the 1980s, when a National Capital Development Commission report found the water system, then owned and operated by Val Jeffery, was nearing the end of its life.

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