The community is invited to have its say on the draft Namoi Regional Water Strategy, a plan to deliver more secure, safe and reliable water for Tamworth, Narrabri, Gunnedah and the Namoi region for the next 20 years and beyond.
Kaia Hodge, Executive Director Water Strategy and Policy for the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, said it is the second time the strategy has been on public exhibition, giving residents and all stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback on the shortlisted options before 18 September.
"We consulted with Aboriginal communities, local residents, businesses, irrigators, landholders, stakeholder groups and councils during the first round of consultation in 2021. This helped refine the strategy and identify the shortlist of options to deliver a more secure water future for the region," Ms Hodge said.
"As towns and businesses in the Namoi grow, and as we face a drier and more variable climate, we're preparing for more pressing challenges than ever before.
"Water security is front of mind which is why the NSW Government remains committed to building the new Dungowan Dam and Pipeline to diversify its water sources, improve water supply for Tamworth, maintain water for irrigators across the Peel Valley, and boost drought resilience for the region.
"Many towns in the region also depend on groundwater – we need to put actions in place to protect the Namoi's aquifers and make sure they're used sustainably."
Ms Hodge said balancing the needs of all water users, including the needs of the environment, was also key to the strategy.
"The Namoi is an agricultural and mining hub, with these industries employing one in three residents and contributing nearly $2 billion annually to the economy. Water is crucial to both sectors," she said.
"Water is also vital for the environment. The region is home to rich and diverse plant and animal species and ecosystems, including the platypus, while the wetlands including those surrounding Lake Goran provide habitat for internationally protected migratory birds and are culturally significant. Water is key to their health and survival.
"The strategy looks at the best possible mix of infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions to ensure residents, industries and the environment have their water needs met over the long term, so they are in a stronger position to manage the next drought."
Shortlisted options include advanced water treatment technologies, demand management and future augmentation solutions that diversify town water sources and reduce the level of reliance on dams. They will:
- Support the long-term water needs of Tamworth and other regional towns
- Support a growing regional community as the climate becomes more variable and uncertain
- Dismantle barriers to Aboriginal people's water rights
- Improve the health and resilience of the environment
"There is no single solution to the region's water management needs and augmentation alone is not enough," Ms Hodge said.
"These proposed options will work in tandem with major commitments like the Dungowan Dam and Pipeline project to secure water for the region over the coming decades.
"We know that water security is the number one priority for local communities in the Namoi, and that's why we want to hear your views to ensure we get the strategy right."
The strategy and shortlisted options will be on display from 22 August to 18 September 2022 and all stakeholders will have the opportunity to have their say to help finalise the strategy.
A webinar and face-to-face consultation sessions will be held in September.
