Consultation is now open on a refresh of the ACT Water Strategy 2014-2044: Striking the Balance (the ACT Water Strategy) in line with the Strategy's 10-year review period.
Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction Shane Rattenbury said it is important to update the ACT Water Strategy as it provides the framework for water security and waterway health.
"The ACT Water Strategy is a long-term strategy that must be informed by, and respond to, contemporary information such as evolving national priorities, local issues, and the water sector," Minister Rattenbury said.
"The review and refresh of the ACT Water Strategy provides the opportunity to modernise the strategy and ensure that it accurately reflects the water challenges and opportunities for the ACT over the next 20 years. We are seeking feedback from Canberrans on the strategy to ensure the water priorities are correct and align with the future risks.
"There will be a public information session on 3 June 2024 with a Q&A for people to ask any questions and provide feedback.
"The updates to the draft ACT Water Strategy aim to provide a better guide for future actions to address the effects of climate change, population growth and urbanisation. The strategy has also been strengthened to focus on implementation to deliver more nation-leading programs like the Healthy Waterways Program.
"This includes projects like the Tuggeranong Creek Naturalisation project, which restores sections of the concreted creek with more natural elements to help clean the storm water and filter out pollutants to help reduce algal blooms in our lakes.
"The main changes to the strategy are a refreshed focus on our strategic direction and aspirations, improved monitoring and evaluation, improved reporting and administrative requirements, and a new outcome area focused on the water interests and values of Traditional Custodians.
"I encourage anyone interested to visit the YourSay website and have their say, or come along to the public information session," said Minister Rattenbury.
Consultation is open from 13 May to 28 June 2024.
To have your say or to sign up for the public information session, visit the ACT Government's YourSay Conversations webpage.
