The NSW Government has released the NSW Murray and Murrumbidgee Regional Water Strategies, setting a long-term plan to secure safer, more reliable and sustainable water supplies for communities across the state’s south.

These strategies map out how NSW will better manage water and build resilience in the future, helping to put them on the front foot in the face of a drier and more variable climate.

They will help secure water for locals, businesses and the environment in southern NSW, from Wagga Wagga to Griffith, Queanbeyan, Albury, Deniliquin, Moama and Jindabyne.

Developed with extensive input from the community, the strategies respond to feedback gathered through multiple rounds of consultation with residents, councils, Aboriginal communities, industry and environmental groups.

The plans identify practical actions to strengthen water security and resilience, including:

• Delivering on commitments in the NSW Alternatives to Buybacks Plan to minimise impacts on regional communities through the rollout of new projects

• Supporting towns and local water utilities to deliver water supply, urban water efficiency, water conservation and leakage reduction initiatives

• Improving cultural access to water for Aboriginal people and supporting their greater involvement in water management

• Leveraging climate model data to improve water management

• Supporting healthy rivers and catchments through the Reconnecting River Country Program and improved environmental flow delivery

• Enhancing fish passage, native fish habitat restoration and groundwater management

• Improving river restoration and flow delivery in the Upper Murrumbidgee catchment to support a healthier river system while meeting water security needs

The NSW Murray and Murrumbidgee Regional Water Strategies are supported by five-year implementation plans that set out how actions will be rolled out and tracked.

The delivery of these final two regional strategies completes the NSW Government’s commitment to deliver twelve regional and two metropolitan water strategies.

This means there are now roadmaps in place across all corners of the state, improving the resilience of NSW’s water services and resources.

For more information, visit: https://www.water.dcceew.nsw.gov.au/our-work/plans-and-strategies/regional-water-strategies-program

NSW DCCEEW Acting Executive Director Strategies and Policy, Madeleine Mispel, said:

“This is about delivering ongoing safe, reliable and sustainable water resources for the NSW Murray and Murrumbidgee regions, now and for generations to come.

“With southern NSW currently being hit hard by drought conditions, it’s never been more critical to have a clear, evidence-based pathway to put these towns in a stronger position to manage their water resources during climate extremes.

“These regional water strategies are underpinned by advanced climate data and hydrological modelling – a first of its kind for NSW – giving us powerful tools to plan, manage and deliver water more effectively across the regions.”