The NSW Government has pledged $650,000 to support councils in Western NSW to build stronger, more resilient water and sewer services.
The funding will support two voluntary pilot projects that trial collaborative approaches to tackling key local challenges and improve long-term service reliability.
The pilots involve Western Councils Water Alliance members, along with Moree Plains and Narrabri, and a separate group of south-west councils including Balranald, Carrathool, Hay, Lachlan and Wentworth.
Delivered over two years, the pilots will test practical ways for councils to collaborate, including but not limited to:
- Sharing specialist staff to address common strategic challenges and risks;
- Working together at a regional level to coordinate critical infrastructure work.
By focusing on cooperation rather than structural change, the pilots aim to deliver practical, locally tailored solutions for regional communities to improve service quality, strengthen drought resilience, and use funding more efficiently.
“Our Government is committed to ensuring our regional communities have equal access to safe, reliable and affordable water services and this is the next step in our plans to improve the system,” said NSW Minister for Water, Rose Jackson.
“Water utilities in western NSW have been clear: they want collaborative approaches, not structural changes. These pilots will give them the opportunity to demonstrate the value of that approach.
“This investment is driving real improvement through collaboration, putting Western NSW water utilities in the driver’s seat and on the path to more sustainable water service delivery,” she said.
