25 August 2008

At the recent LGSA Water Management Conference held in Ballina, the Minister for Water, Nathan Rees MP, provided an update on the Inquiry into secure and sustainable urban water supply and sewerage services for non-metropolitan NSW.

With approximately half of the submissions received by the Inquiry advocating the status quo, the Minister strongly reminded the 220 conference delegates that subsidy funding will not be available for councils that choose the status quo.

He also advised that the interim report by the Independent Inquiry Panel has been received by his office and that he will be released after the September council elections for comment. A final response from the NSW Government is expected by November 2008.

The length of time the Minister spent at this year's conference was welcomed by delegates, particulary as he stayed on following his keynote speech to participate in a forum session after the morning tea break. During the forum session the Minister listened and answered many queries from the attendees.

It was a positive move by the Minister to spend an extended length of time at the Water Management Conference and it is hoped that he will continue to be as open and frank with the water and sewer industry in the coming months ahead.

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