Country Mayors welcome promised investment in town water

The Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) has welcomed the NSW Opposition's announcement of a promise to invest $5 billion over ten years to address town water infrastructure in regional NSW. “About one-third of CMA member councils are also Local Water Utilities, providing drinking water to the almost 3 million people that live and work in remote, rural and regional NSW," said CMA Chairman, Temora Mayor Rick Firman OAM. "Currently, most are struggling to meet the costs associated with upgrading existing facilities or building new water treatment plants. These facilities which are essential to housing growth, cost millions, and the CMA maintains that councils and water county councils need more investment from the State to address the challenge." Mr Firman said the CMA warmly welcomes this announcement from the NSW Coalition because it recognises and addresses the desperate need that many remote, rural and regional councils have for long-term, committed investment in this essential service. "We remain very disappointed that while the most recent state budget committed over $5 billion to tackle town water issues in western Sydney, there was no similar investment in the same facilities for regional NSW. “I commend the genuine consultation from NSW Shadow Water Minister Ms Steph Cooke in the lead-up to this announcement." The Member for Cootamundra met with Councils and County Councils right across the State to gain a holistic understanding of the challenges being faced in delivering the standard of drinking water that rural and regional NSW communities have the right to expect. “Local Water Utilities are in desperate need of investment to upgrade and build new facilities. Since COVID, many remote, rural and regional communities have seen a surge in population which has increased demand for new housing and as a result, quality drinking water," Mr Firman said. “While the NSW Government is understandably focused on housing, every new house requires a connection to drinking water. Every resident of NSW should have access to quality drinking water. This announcement from the NSW Opposition is a big step in the right direction to ensure that happens.” Mr Firman added.