A 20-year blueprint to deliver resilient and sustainable water resources to communities across the State has been launched by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE).
Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey said the NSW Water Strategy was the State’s first-ever platform for the long-term management of water, which would guide future water planning and policy as well as water infrastructure investments.
“This Strategy, underpinned by cutting-edge climate modelling, will help our State work towards becoming a world leader in water innovation and efficiency,” Mrs Pavey said.
“In the next 12 months, we’ll refocus our efforts on water conservation and leakage reduction in our cities, towns and regional centres, and deliver a Statewide water efficiency framework,” she said.
“We’ll also look for opportunities to invest in research and development, and new technologies, including recycled water opportunities for industrial and agricultural uses.”
Mrs Pavey said DPIE would investigate and invest in supply options including stormwater harvesting and water re-use and look at developing a consistent approach to water restrictions.
The Minister said the Strategy set the overarching vision for 12 regional and two metropolitan water strategies, now in development, that would be tailored to the individual needs of each region in the State.
She said the Strategy coincided with the launch of the DPIE’s Water Project Map, a new tool for people to access information about all water infrastructure projects across NSW.
“In addition, the new online map shows where the record investment for critical water infrastructure projects are, details of the projects and how they are helping communities,” Mrs Pavey said.
DPIE’s 151-page Strategy can be accessed at this PS News link and its Water Project Map at this link.
