The NSW Nationals have announced a $5 billion, 10-year investment plan to secure the state’s water future, which has been sorely neglected under Labor.
Under the Nationals’ Regional Infrastructure Guarantee, a new fund will be established to replace the previous Safe and Secure Water Program.
The fund would be backed by legislation and supported by royalties.
Future Governments would be locked into continued investment in the sector so that no community is left behind.
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.
“Across regional NSW, housing growth, industry, local economies, and job creation are being stifled by infrastructure that has reached its limits, whether it be aging, failing or non-existent, Ms Sloane said.
“In some communities, people don’t have access to clean water. Brown water coming out of your tap is just not acceptable in 2026.”
NSW Nationals Leader and Shadow Minister for Regional NSW Gurmesh Singh said the program was about a whole lot more than just water security.
“The program will unlock more new homes across regional NSW, in an effort to ease the pressure on the supply side of housing,” Mr Singh said.
“It will also build economic activity in regional NSW, enabling new and improved industrial projects to get underway.
“Labor under Chris Minns and Anthony Albanese has neglected regional water infrastructure for four years, now under our Regional Infrastructure Guarantee, regional NSW will finally see the investment it needs and deserves.”
Shadow Minister for Water Steph Cooke said that 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.
“This program is designed to build the foundational infrastructure needed to attract new families and new business to the bush now and in the future.
“Importantly, money will once again flow into more pressing 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.
