Regional Cities NSW (RCNSW) has called on the State Government to prioritise regional water policy and investment following the release of the NSW Auditor-General’s Water management and regulation in NSW report, warning that water security is becoming a critical constraint on growth across the North Coast, Mid North Coast and New England regions.
RCNSW Chair and Mayor of Lismore, Steve Krieg, said the findings were particularly relevant to fast-growing regional centres across northern NSW, where communities are managing the combined pressures of population growth, housing demand, ageing infrastructure and climate variability.
“The Auditor-General’s report highlights that the state’s water framework remains complex, fragmented and constrained by poor data and unclear responsibilities,” Krieg said.
“This report has also found that the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has not evaluated the cumulative environmental, social and economic impacts of the post-2017 water reforms.
“The value of water entitlements in NSW is estimated to be up to $41 billion, getting regulation right on this issue is so important.
“Earlier this year, the Auditor-General also confirmed that almost $1 billion is required just to ensure regional and rural communities continue to receive safe and secure water at agreed service levels.
“Water security underpins every aspect of regional liveability and the State’s growth agenda, the work of the Auditor-General is clearly pointing to a system that is under-funded and under-governed.
“Given the role water plays in underpinning housing, renewables, agriculture service delivery and climate resilience, the question must be how can the NSW government achieve their ambitions without getting the state’s water framework right?”
Regional Cities NSW said communities across the North Coast, Mid North Coast and New England regions are increasingly dependent on reliable water infrastructure to support housing development, industry growth, agricultural production and economic diversification.
The alliance’s pre-budget advocacy highlights that ageing treatment plants, rising operating costs, climate variability and population growth are placing unprecedented pressure on local water systems, particularly in regional centres experiencing strong population growth.
RCNSW is calling for sustained investment in regional water security, including:
- Increased funding for the Safe and Secure Water Program to support critical capital works;
- Enhanced support through the Regional Water Efficiency and Sustainability Program to improve the efficiency and resilience of existing assets; and
- Dedicated funding to deliver immediate safeguards for regional water supplies, including measures to address PFAS contamination.
Krieg said councils across northern NSW were committed to supporting the Government’s housing and growth objectives, but warned that investment in water infrastructure must keep pace with demand.
“All our members are managing budget challenges, drought and ageing infrastructure, which is happening while demand is building in the system with increased population growth and housing shortages.
“We are on the same page as the State Government when it comes to addressing growth but this cannot happen without secure and reliable water systems,” Krieg said.
RCNSW members in northern NSW include Lismore, Armidale, Coffs Harbour and Tweed, with many regional communities across the North Coast, Mid North Coast and New England regions facing increasing pressure to accommodate growth while maintaining reliable water services.
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