Hello, and welcome to our first newsletter for 2026!
Record temperatures across NSW, particularly in the west, have tested water security and the resilience of our water supply assets. The Water Directorate has been collaborating on a number of water security initiatives, including a town water security diagnostic/stocktake, as drought contingency and emergency response planning.
We have also been facilitating discussions on strategic planning between our member Local Water Utilities, sharing helpful case studies looking through the lens of the Integrated Planning and Reporting framework.
The Water Directorate will continue to advocate for:
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Regulatory and funding reform - continue the Safe and Secure Water Program, urgently implement a community service obligation for local water utilities, streamline approvals for projects and promote innovation.
- Renew our focus on water for critical human needs - we need a strategic view of our water security challenges for regional NSW and a focus on implementing solutions.
- Incentivisation of regional collaboration - to promote access to specialist skills and deliver regional programs, through a dedicated funding program along the lines of the QWRAP program in Queensland.
- Implementation of a digital water utilities program - leveraging the success of DCCEEW's Regional Leakage Reduction Program and Advanced Operational Support program.
🚀 New website under development
Finding information, accessing services, and engaging with us is about to get easier, with a new and improved website. Some things will look different, and not everything is final yet. That’s intentional, as we continue to improve our member experience, including moving from organisation‑based to individual member logins.
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