A Daley Labor Government in NSW will create a new $1 billion water fund to build and upgrade water infrastructure across NSW.
A Daley Labor Government in NSW will create a new $1 billion water fund to build and upgrade water infrastructure across NSW.
The Safe Water Safe Future fund will be a once in a generation initiative to help protect the drinking water supply of regional communities in a climate that will see longer and more frequent droughts.
The fund is designed to increase both quantity and quality of water supplied to regional communities. Projects funded will include environmental infrastructure solutions.
This fund will help revive rivers like the Richmond River on the North Coast and the Murray-Darling river system, in the ongoing fight against drought and climate change.
In contrast to Daley Labor, the Liberals and Nationals are splurging $2.2 billion on Sydney stadiums and are wasting $500 million in water funding on a Wentworth to Broken Hill pipeline that will effectively see the Menindee Lakes decommissioned as a result.
Local communities in Broken Hill and Wentworth were never properly consulted on this project and many locals continue to oppose the project.
"Water is the lifeblood of many regional communities and industries. Rather than splurge $2.2 billion on stadiums we must fund better water infrastructure," Labor Leader, Michael Daley, said.
"That's why I will establish a new water fund to back our country towns and protect their water supplies."
"Labor will establish a new regional water fund designed to do what the Nationals cannot or will not do - protect the water supply of regional communities," Shadow Minister for Water, Chris Minns, said.
"It is clear that climate change is having a severe and continuing effect on regional and remote communities. Many of these communities are currently facing critical water shortages and some will completely run out of water if more is not done to help them."
Under Labor's Safe Water Safe Future fund, regional communities will submit applications to the NSW Government for co-funding for water security or water quality projects.
The Fund will also consider water projects for communities for which co–funding is not an option due to the small number of ratepayers in the utility's catchment area. In these instances the fund can cover the full cost of the project.
