Urban Water
Review and reform
The Department of Water and Energy is working on a number of review and reform projects around urban water practices and processes.
In September 2007 the then Minister for Water, the Hon Nathan Rees MP, announced an Independent Inquiry into Secure and Sustainable Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Services for Non-Metropolitan NSW. The Inquiry examined the performance of local water utilities and the challenges that are facing them. The Inquiry invited public submissions and held public hearings in 17 locations across New South Wales. The public hearings held by the Inquiry attracted almost 500 attendees and it received over 140 written submissions. The Inquiry report has now been released.
The NSW Government has also sought community input into a review of the institutional and technical aspects of the plumbing and drainage regulation in NSW. The aim of the review is to assess the appropriateness of the current structure for plumbing and drainage in NSW, in the context of the Government's policy objectives and the changing water industry structure.
Meeting the challenge of securing the water supply of greater Sydney and NSW in the long-term and in drought requires the innovation, resources and cooperation of both the Government and the private sector. In November 2006, the Water Industry Competition Act 2006 was passed by the NSW Parliament. It was developed by the NSW Government to encourage competition in the water industry and to promote the development of infrastructure for the production and reticulation of recycled water.