Water is one of our most valuable natural assets. We have a responsibility to the people of NSW to ensure we have an equitable and transparent approach to the management of our water now and for future generations.
We manage water to:
- support jobs, economic growth, the environment, and our health and wellbeing
- deliver efficient services with a focus on innovation, performance and affordability
- improve the health of waterways and their catchments to support our environmental, social, cultural and economic needs and values
- support the sustainable use of and access to water
- enable farmers and all water users to achieve and improve water efficiency with the available water, while supporting regional communities to adjust to a changing climate
- plan infrastructure that secures water supply and increases drought resilience across our communities
- support the wellbeing of rural and regional communities who enjoy the recreational benefits our regional waterways provide.
The NSW Government has built a compliance and enforcement regime that ensures strong and certain regulations for water in the state.
The department received Ken Matthews’ final report into water management and compliance in NSW.
NSW Alternatives to Buybacks Plan to minimise the exposure of regional communities to water buybacks.
Learn how the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), WaterNSW and the Natural Resources Access Regulator work together.
Local, state and federal agencies all play a part in managing water in NSW.
Everything you need to know about water for the environment in NSW – what it is, how it is managed, current projects and data.