A water treatment plant
Improving water quality across regional NSW
 
For the first time, 10 inland regional communities will benefit from a new $1.5 million funding program delivered by the NSW Government aimed to boost drinking water quality.

The department’s Advanced Operational Support Program has provided $150,000 to each of the following local councils to improve the safety and reliability of town water supplies: 
 
  • Hay Shire Council – Hay treatment plant
  • Hilltops Council – Boorowa treatment plant
  • Central Darling Shire Council – Ivanhoe treatment plant
  • Murrumbidgee Council – Jerilderie treatment plant
  • Coonamble Shire Council – Coonamble treatment plant
  • Glen Innes Severn Council – Glen Innes treatment plant
  • Balranald Shire Council – Balranald treatment plant
  • Mid-Western Shire Council – Rylstone treatment plant
  • Cabonne Shire Council – Molong treatment plant
  • Moree Shire Council – Boggabilla treatment plant.
Expected to be completed by 2024, the investment will fund upgrades to water treatment plants, improving performance and ensuring existing infrastructure is in a stronger position to respond to a range of water quality issues.

At no cost to councils, the program offers expert technicians and engineers, on-site assessment and advice, online monitoring solutions, and training to help local water operators improve their skills. This support enables them to optimise treatment plants and manage water quality issues faster and more effectively. That support has also been extended to Armidale Regional Council’s plant at Guyra and Bourke Shire Council.

The program is part of the $32.8 million Town Water Risk Reduction Program that is working in partnership with local councils and Local Water Utilities to address issues such as water quality, dam safety and training for water and sewerage operators.
 
 
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Join our webinar on strategic planning assurance on Thursday 4 April
 
You are invited to a webinar on effective strategic planning in local water utilities under the Regulatory and Assurance Framework (RAF) on Thursday 4 April at 11 am.

The webinar will cover:
  • the department’s expectations for LWUs strategic planning effectiveness, as outlined in the RAF
  • the process and benefits of using the department’s functions to ensure effective strategic planning
  • how we are collaborating with LWUs to establish evidence-based strategic planning practices.  
A question-and-answer session will be held at the end of the webinar. We will try to answer all your questions in the time allocated. However, for those we cannot address on the day, we will respond after the event.  

Webinar details
Date: Thursday 4 April 2024
Time: 11 am – 12 pm
Where: Online (Teams)
Register: Sign up to join the webinar

This webinar is part of our local water utilities monthly webinar series to better connect local water utilities and the department, share the latest information and hear your feedback. 

If you missed the first webinar on works approvals, held on 14 March, a recording will be published soon on the local water utilities website.
Water Industry Competition (General) Regulation webinar
Join our Urban Water Planning team for this webinar on information for metropolitan councils about legislative changes affecting private operators and retailers who provide water, recycling or sewerage schemes.

Webinar details
Date: Tuesday 9 April 2024
Time: 11 am to 12 pm
Where: Teams (Online)
Register: Sign up to join the webinar 

If you register to attend the webinar, you will receive a follow up recording, even if you cannot attend on the day.
 
 
Pipes inside Finley water treatment plant
Finley’s water future secured with $6.6 million water treatment plant upgrade
 
High quality and reliable drinking water has been secured at Finley in the Riverina for decades to come thanks to the completion of a $6.6 million upgrade of the town’s water treatment plant.

The project was delivered courtesy of a $4 million investment from the NSW Government’s Safe and Secure Water Program and $2.67 million from Berrigan Shire Council.  

The existing facility, built in the 1940s, has undergone a complete upgrade to bring its infrastructure into the 21st century and restore capacity to meet Finley’s future population demands.

The Safe and Secure Water Program is supporting more than $1 billion worth of projects across the state, with over 250 in various stages of delivery.

Berrigan Shire Council Mayor, Julia Cornwell McKean, said the collaborative partnership with the NSW Government meant the right infrastructure was now in place to deliver clean, top-quality water to Finley households for generations.

Visit the local water utilities website for more information about our work with water utilities.
 
 
NSW Productivity Commission seeks submissions on funding options for utilities
The Minister for Water requested the NSW Productivity Commission investigate funding options to help reduce service risk for local water utilities and an issues paper has now been released.

The issues paper focusses on the challenges facing regional and remote water and waste water services and the need for a funding system that is fair, efficient, and meets the needs of regional and remote communities.

The Commission encourages interested parties to make written submissions by Thursday 28 March 2024.

Find out more and make a submission at the Commission’s website.
 
 
Water Directorate seeks feedback
A strong advocate for local water utilities in NSW, the Water Directorate is seeking feedback on how it can improve future communications to the sector. To provide input, complete this communications and engagement survey by Friday 29 March.
 
 
Saving billions of litres of water in our regions
Fifteen local water utilities have been offered up to $150,000 in co-funding to launch infrastructure as part of the NSW Government’s efforts to save 7.5 billion litres of water per year across the state.

The Regional Leakage Reduction Program has so far worked with 54 regional councils and Aboriginal communities to save 5.8 billion litres of water per year through new equipment, training and increased resources to save water.

The program is investing in 15 priority councils that have never before received this funding and will significantly benefit from new projects, training and water-saving infrastructure.

This includes procuring and installing bulk meters, sensors, real-time monitors and pressure-reducing valves. It will also help operators zero-in on leaking pipes by funding specialised detection equipment including leak noise loggers, electronic listening sticks and ground microphones.

Councils invited to take part include:
  • Clarence Valley Council
  • Carrathool Shire Council
  • Muswellbrook Shire Council
  • Balranald Shire Council
  • Hilltops Council
  • Uralla Shire Council
  • Bellingen Shire Council
  • Brewarrina Shire Council
  • Central Darling Shire
  • Warrumbungle Shire Council
  • Murray River Council
  • Richmond Valley Council
  • Moree Plains Shire Council
  • Leeton Shire Council
  • Walgett Shire Council.
 
 
Improvements to our water website
The department has made some enhancements to the Water website to improve our homepage navigation.

What’s changed?

The local water utilities content is now accessible from a suite of new pages, including:
  • Popular pages tab on the home page
  • Our work drop down on the main navigation
  • Useful links card on the home page.
These changes are part of a continuous improvement process in line with state government’s digital design system.

Visit water.nsw.gov.au and our local water utilities pages to see the improvements.
 
 
A weir in regional NSW.
New regulations for private water sector
 
New legislative changes came into effect on 1 March 2024, streamlining operations for private water entities providing water services management in 2 different areas of the water sector.

The Water Industry Competition Amendment Act 2021 and  Water Industry Competition (General) Regulation 2024 (WIC Regulation) commenced. These changes provide a targeted licensing framework, streamlined approvals and licensing to encourage private-sector investment and innovation in the supply of water and sewerage services and delivery of recycled water infrastructure.

Visit our website for more information about the Water Industry Competition Amendment Act 2021. 

The Water Management Amendment Act 2010 and supporting regulations also began on 1 March 2024, simplifying the laws managing private irrigation boards, private drainage boards and private water trusts. The changes give schemes more flexibility to make and amend their internal rules, reduce the NSW Government’s role in administrative matters and convert private irrigation or drainage boards to private water corporations.

Visit our website for more information about the changes to joint private works schemes.
 
 
Training to support trade waste management
The department is seeking more information about trade waste training needs to better support councils and the regional trade waste sector. 

Relevant managers, officers and staff responsible for trade waste are invited to complete an online survey to help shape the training that the department delivers in the second half of 2024. 

The survey will take approximately 5 minutes to complete and closes on Thursday 28 March at 5pm (AEDT). 
a water treatment plant
Find out more
We oversee the delivery of water and sewerage services by local water utilities, as well as the management of water service risks. Visit the local water utilities website for more information.
 
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