The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment & Water (DCCEEW) has rejected an urgent request from Coonamble for bottled drinking water, more than a week after the town was placed on a boil water notice.
Coonamble is one of a growing number of rural and regional communities calling for state and federal investment to upgrade their aging, overstretched water infrastructure.
Already under strict water restrictions, the town was issued a boil water notice on January 29 following a system failure at the local water treatment plant.
The notice has left residents unable to safely drink tap water and facing serious disruptions to daily life.
As council crews work to stabilise the water network, Coonamble Shire Council has introduced a range of relief measures, including the distribution of free bottled water packs to affected residents.
To support these efforts, Council lodged an urgent application to DCCEEW under the Emergency Financial Assistance Grants program, which provides for the provision of bottled water in exceptional circumstances.
Twelve days after the boil water notice was issued, DCCEEW formally declined the request.
In the NSW Parliament today, Minister for Water Rose Jackson was asked: "If being unable to shower and drink tap water is not enough of an emergency to trigger support, then what is?"
"I have been made aware of the circumstances in Coonamble," Ms Jackson said.
"The responsibility for the delivery of local water in these communities is the local water utility, and in a place like Coonamble, a local water utility might struggle in the circumstances that they've experienced extreme heat.
"Things like water carting are available to support critical human needs where an emergency situation arises, but that can't be at the expense of supporting a local water utility to be able to do its job in the long term."
Ms Jackson also claimed that Coonamble Council never submitted a formal request for support, however, the Council has been able to provide evidence of their request.
Shadow Minister for Water, Steph Cooke, said the Minister's comments contradict the realities faced on the ground and stand as yet another example of the Minns Labor Government failing to provide adequate support to regional and rural communities grappling with deteriorating essential infrastructure.
"Coonamble is just one of dozens of communities across rural and regional NSW urgently calling on the Minns Labor Government for help," Ms Cooke said.
"How can you be aware of a community's circumstances, but have no knowledge of any requests made for meaningful assistance?
"To deny bottled water to a community that cannot rely on its own taps for safe drinking water is completely outrageous, and it sets a cruel precedent for the next town that wakes up to a boil water notice caused by aging infrastructure.
"If the government is unwilling to assist with something as basic and immediate as bottled water during a public health incident, what hope do communities have of securing the long-term funding needed to replace failing systems, especially after three budget cycles with no meaningful investment in this space?
"Time and time again, the Minister justifies her lack of intervention with an offer of 'technical support,' but it only kicks the can down the road, and that's the billion-dollar backlog of projects the Government continues to neglect.
"The condition of water infrastructure across regional NSW is approaching crisis point, and responsibility sits squarely with the Minister, who has had the authority to intervene since 2023."
Ms Cooke has spoken with the Mayor of Coonamble and reaffirmed her commitment to fighting for a fairer outcome for the community.
Coonamble Shire Council had requested a meeting with the Minister, but has been advised that senior departmental representatives will instead be available for discussions toward the end of March.
