Member for Cootamundra and NSW Shadow Minister for Water, Steph Cooke, has put forward a plan to address the growing backlog of regional water infrastructure projects across the state, including those in the Cootamundra electorate.

Ms Cooke has proposed investing $5 billion in water infrastructure over 10 years to address water insecurity and support future housing growth in the regions through a first-of-its-kind fund.

The Royalties for Regional Water Fund (RRWF) would replace the previous Safe and Secure Water Program, with mining royalties going towards the design and construction of regional water projects.

The fund would be enabled by new legislation, which, if passed, would require successive governments to continue investing in the sector so that no community is left behind.

It would be the largest-ever 10-year investment in regional water in the state’s history.

Ms Cooke consulted extensively with local councils and water utilities in developing the plan and said substantial investment is essential to ensure communities have the critical infrastructure needed to support growth and long-term prosperity.

“Regional NSW simply cannot build new homes, attract skilled professionals, and grow its economy without reliable water infrastructure,” Ms Cooke said.

“Across regional NSW, housing growth, industry, local economies and job creation are being stifled by infrastructure that has reached its limits, and whether it be ageing, failing or non-existent, this crisis is jeopardising the health and liveability of existing residents.”

Building upon the previous NSW Safe and Secure Water Program, the RRWF has been developed to replace ageing infrastructure, support regional housing development and industrial growth, invest in training in water infrastructure management, and respond quickly to emergencies.

Over the past four budget cycles, the NSW Minns Labor government invested no new funds into the primary funding program that builds and replaces water infrastructure in regional NSW.

The latest prediction from Local government NSW is that the infrastructure backlog has blown out to $5 billion, including local projects such as the Boorowa pipeline and the Narrandera Water Treatment Plant.

“I want to see the state government return to investing in projects that ensure regional, rural, and remote people have access to safe, clean drinking water and manageable sewerage systems,” Ms Cooke said.

“We cannot tackle an infrastructure shortfall without building infrastructure. It’s as simple as that, and the longer these water infrastructure projects are left unprioritised, the more ratepayers will pay in the future. That is why I’m proposing this new fund.”

The fund would be supported through mining royalties, meaning that regional communities will directly benefit from the resource sector, which they predominantly host.

“The resources sector relies on the strength of regional communities, and that’s why it makes sense that royalties be spent on delivering regional infrastructure,” Ms Cooke said.