Minister for Primary Industries, Lands and Water Niall Blair said a large investment in infrastructure for water security is needed for all of NSW, especially regional areas.
“The fact that there are still communities that do not have modern systems to safely manage effluent is just not on but this funding will once and for all address the backlog in our country towns,” Mr Blair said.
The NSW Budget includes:
- $127.4 million for Water Security for regions in expenditure commitments. This includes 16 local infrastructure projects and an initial $52.3 million to secure emergency water supplies from Broken Hill as part of Restart NSW.
- $110 million has been reserved under Restart NSW for Country Town Water Supply in 71 communities across NSW. Funding will be allocated to individual projects once they have been further developed and subject to assurance processes, including final business case approval.
- $186 million to assist eligible NSW households with the financial costs for the supply of potable water.
- $130 million for water saving infrastructure projects, funded by the Commonwealth under its Water for the Future program, to assist in bridging the gap to the Basin Plan.
- $38 million to secure long-term potable water supplies and manage effluent effectively in regional communities.
- $16 million to implement water reform initiatives in the Murray Darling Basin.
- $11 million for programs to improve water and sewerage services for eligible Aboriginal communities.
More information
Restart NSW website
Find out more about the Water for the Future Program at the Australian Government's Department of the Environment Water website.
