{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@graph”: [ { “@type”: “Article”, “headline”: “Free Water In The Outback: One Town’s Generous Response To Crisis”, “datePublished”: “2026-04-03T00:00:00+10:00”, “dateModified”: “2026-04-03T00:00:00+10:00”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Angus Hughson”, “jobTitle”: “Founder and Dam Building Specialist” }, “publisher”: { “@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “Big Ditch Dam Building Company”, “url”: “https://www.bigditch.com.au” }, “mainEntityOfPage”: “https://www.bigditch.com.au/outback-town-giving-away-free-water/” }, { “@type”: “FAQPage”, “mainEntity”: [ { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “What is the best approach for free water in the outback: one town’s generous response to crisis?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “The best approach depends on your specific site conditions, soil type, and water storage goals. Big Ditch recommends a professional site inspection to assess your property before recommending any solution.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “How does this affect farm dam performance?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Properly managed dams perform significantly better and last longer. Regular maintenance and the right design choices can double the effective lifespan of a farm dam and reduce costly repairs.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Is this relevant for Australian conditions?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Yes \u2014 Australian dam conditions vary widely between states and climate zones. Big Ditch has over 30 years of experience across Queensland, NSW, and Victoria and designs solutions specifically for Australian rural conditions.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Can I get a quote from Big Ditch for this?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Yes \u2014 Big Ditch provides fixed-price quotes after a site inspection. Contact us on (02) 7229 4866 or book a site inspection online at bigditch.com.au.” } } ] } ] }

Last updated: April 2026 | Author: Angus Hughson, Big Ditch Dam Building Company

📋 Quick Answer

Big Ditch Dam Building Company has been constructing and repairing farm dams across New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria for over 35 years. Every farm dam built to the right standards — correct clay, proper compaction, adequate spillway — can provide 50–100+ years of reliable water storage.

Big Ditch Dam Builder Water isn't forever 720px
 
 
A Queensland town with a wealth of underground water is offering it free to other drought affected towns that are lacking the valuable resource.
 
The Queensland hamlet of Richmond is the lucky town – and the water originates from the Great Artesian Basin
 
The Richmond County Council Mayor John Wharton has presented the idea of a “water run” to help any of the communities in Queensland or New South Wales which are running dry.
 
The water would come from the town’s bores which originate from the Great Artesian Container, not the Flinders River.
 
“We have water readily available that we would certainly be extremely satisfied to offer complimentary to those dry towns, the only thing would be the expense of obtaining it there.”
 
Richmond Mayor John Wharton suggests a government-sponsored train to transfer water to other towns.
 
The QLD Government hasn’t responded to the offer as yet

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