Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan joined his NSW Nationals colleagues today in announcing a $5 billion, 10-year investment plan to secure the state’s water future under a Coalition-led government.
Under the Nationals’ Regional Infrastructure Guarantee, a new fund will be established to replace the previous Safe and Secure Water Program, with mining royalties going towards the design and construction of regional water infrastructure to ensure clean, safe and reliable drinking water for our towns and villages.
Mr Moylan said the fund will lock in future governments through continued investment across regional communities.
“The state of household water in many communities across the electorate is a subject raised with me every week,” Mr Moylan said.
“Councils do manage to deliver safe and potable water to households, but they do struggle to ensure that the water remains clear and palatable at all times, especially during heatwaves and when rainfall is in short supply.
“This policy and plan will provide a permanent solution for those communities such as Gravesend, Guyra, Uralla, Glen Innes and Warialda, which are all familiar with a tall glass of brown water.”
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane said the program would be the largest ever ten-year investment in regional water in the state’s history and ensure clean water for every community.
“In some communities, people don’t have access to clean water. Brown water coming out of your tap is just not acceptable in 2026,” Ms Sloane said.
Shadow Minister for Water Steph Cooke said the Program was designed following extensive consultation with the water and local government sectors, ensuring that funding is available to both replace aging infrastructure and support regional development.
“The Safe and Secure Water Program was a lifeline to regional areas, however, it did not fund programs to support housing development and industrial growth,” Ms Cooke said.
“Under a Nationals and Liberals Government, money will once again flow into pressing water infrastructure projects, such as pipelines and treatment plants, to ensure the health and liveability of residents today.
The fund will be supported by royalties, meaning that regional communities will directly benefit from the resource sector they predominantly host.
“The resources sector relies on the strength of regional communities, and therefore, we see it as only fitting those royalties contribute to regional infrastructure,” Ms Cooke said.