Category Archives: Water and Energy

The Water Minister has been caught in an embarrassing misstep after announcing a new funding program for Boorowa, just weeks after making the very same announcement for the town, Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said.

Ms Cooke said on 5 February 2024, the Minister announced $150,000 for Hilltops Council under the Government’s ‘Advanced Operational Support Program’, to go towards upgrades to the Boorowa water treatment plant. Just six weeks later – on March 20 – the Minister announced the very same funding again.

“Either the Minister is not across the detail of her portfolio and has accidently doubled-up on her announcement, or she was trying to hood-wink the community about the level of investment the NSW Labor Government is making in Boorowa to address its ongoing water issues,” Ms Cooke said.

“Either way, it is simply not acceptable that a Minister who has been charged with the responsibility of such an important portfolio area, reheats previous funding announcements, and treats the community with this level of disrespect,” she said.

Ms Cooke said the Minister has been in the role for 12 months now, so it is fair for the community to expect more from the NSW Labor Government regarding this issue.

“The water portfolio is not an easy task – I understand that – and I appreciate that there are water issues piling up around the state; whether it be aging infrastructure, boil water alerts, or the need for long-term visionary projects, but I implore the Minister to get out of the city, and come to Boorowa to see for herself, the situation residents are facing with their drinking water,” Ms Cooke said.

“And while she’s in the electorate, perhaps she could drive over to Wyangala Dam and re-think the Government’s short-sighted decision to scrap the project to raise the dam wall, which had the dual purpose of flood mitigation, and drought preparedness.

“Or she could head west to Narrandera, and hear from locals about how they can’t rely on the water coming out of their household taps to be drinkable, or even suitable for basic needs like clothes washing,” she said.

Following close to 12 months of intense lobbying on behalf of the Boorowa community, Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has helped secure over half a million dollars in State Government funding to go towards finding a solution to the town’s ongoing water supply issues.

Ms Cooke said the news of the funding came hot on the heels of her Cootamundra Summit last week, during which the Water Minister heard directly again from both herself and Hilltops Council, about the gravity of the situation.

“The Minister once again heard first-hand from myself, as well as from Hilltops Deputy Mayor Alison Foreman, and General Manager Anthony O’Reilly, about just how serious the situation in Boorowa has become, and how residents can’t rely on what is one of the most basic of needs, and that is turning on the water tap,” Ms Cooke said.

“I’m certainly pleased that having raised the issue again last week directly with the Minister, that the NSW Labor Government has finally acknowledged the concerns of local residents and of Hilltops Council, and has taken steps to rectify the problems around water quality in Boorowa once and for all.

“The current situation in Boorowa is of course simply unacceptable, and so today’s news that the NSW Labor Government has signed-off on an investment of just over half a million dollars, means that – together with a similar investment from Hilltops Council – close to one million dollars will now go towards a feasibility study to explore the option of constructing a water pipeline from Harden to Boorowa.

“This is a significant first step towards finding a lasting solution to what has become an untenable problem for Boorowa residents, who are still dealing with a boil water alert for what will be the third week in a row.

“Boorowa is expanding, but without the proper infrastructure in place, this growth will always be held back.

“Having safe and secure water supplies at our schools, hospitals, homes, and small businesses is a basic requirement, and it’s encouraging that Boorowa can now take the next significant step towards securing a reliable water supply; something many of us – particularly those in the metropolitan areas – take for granted,” she said.

Photograph caption: Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke with Hilltops Council Deputy Mayor Alison Foreman at the ‘Cootamundra Summit’ held in Harden last week.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke is calling on Water Minister Rose Jackson to take immediate action to fix the water supply issues that continue to plague the Boorowa community.

It follows a warning issued to residents that the drinking water is unsafe and must be boiled before use, a situation Ms Cooke said is completely unacceptable.

“The Water Minister is well aware of the water supply issues facing this community; I personally delivered a petition to her office in August last year, that made the situation regarding the water quality abundantly clear, and yet almost five months later, the Minister is nowhere to be seen,” Ms Cooke said.

Ms Cooke said more than 400 people put their names to the petition calling on the Water Minister to take urgent action to provide a secure potable water supply for Boorowa.

“The time has long past for the Water Minister to acknowledge the concerns of local residents and of Hilltops Council, and to take steps to rectify the problems around water quality and quantity in Boorowa once and for all,” Ms Cooke said.

“Inaction is no longer an option; the Water Minister must act now and make fixing Boorowa’s water a top priority in 2024,” she said.

Ms Cooke said there are steps the Water Minister can take in the short-term, to address the issue.

“If the Minister is serious about finding solutions to this ongoing problem, she could immediately sign-off on funding to explore the feasibility of the options that are on the table in 2024, including a proposal for a pipeline from Harden to Boorowa,” Ms Cooke said.

“Boorowa is expanding, but without the proper infrastructure in place, this growth will always be held back.

“Having safe and secure water supplies at our schools, hospitals, homes, and small businesses is a basic requirement, and if this city-centric NSW Labor Government is serious about giving our rural and regional communities every opportunity to thrive, they must govern for the entire state, and focus their attention on issues beyond the Great Divide,” she said.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the West Wyalong Water Reliability Project will reinforce water supply and security in the Bland Shire to support residents, industry, and agriculture into the future.

Ms Cooke was on-hand today to help officially open the project, which consists of a new water tower, 8km water supply trunk main, 7km distribution water main, and new transfer pump station.

“The water network had reached capacity, so the West Wyalong Water Reliability Project has upgraded the existing distribution network in a way that will support future expansion in West Wyalong and across the Bland Shire,” Ms Cooke said.

Along with supporting future growth opportunities, Ms Cooke said the close to $14 million project will also address residents’ concerns about water pressure.

“The project will increase water pressure to the Wyalong & West Wyalong townships, increase security of water supply, and allow for future expansion of the Lake Cowal mine, the township, and agricultural industry,” Ms Cooke said.

“Water infrastructure is so very important for every community across our regions; this infrastructure will help incentivise future development – both residential and commercial – which will boost the growth of the region by supporting industries that create jobs, enhance productivity, and help reinforce the local economy.

“The Coalition in New South Wales knows just how vital water is to the sustainability of our towns and villages; it is the lifeblood of our communities, so I’m very proud to have been a part of a government that prioritised projects like this, and contributed the funds needed to help make it a reality,” she said.

Funding for the West Wyalong Water Reliability Project was made available under the previous Federal Coalition Government as part of the Commonwealth’s National Water Grid Fund Connections Pathway ($4.5 million), along with the previous NSW Coalition Government’s Resources for Regions Fund ($2.65 million), Bland Shire Council ($800,000) and Goldenfields Water ($5.25 million).

NSW Shadow Water Minister Steph Cooke says the passage of Commonwealth legislation rewriting the rules of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, gives added urgency to the need for greater transparency around the deal the NSW Labor Government has struck with their federal counterparts, to meet unscientific environmental water targets.

Ms Cooke says the NSW Labor Government has serious questions to answer on the fine print of the agreement, after the Water Minister appeared to admit there is no formal paperwork associated with the revised Basin Plan.

“We in Opposition are fed-up with the sheer lack of detail around the agreement between the state and federal governments, and brought forward a motion in the Upper House calling on the release of all documents relating to the revised Murray-Darling Basin Plan,” Ms Cooke said.

“Alarmingly the Water Minister, in opposing the motion, said there were no documents, admitting that the papers we are seeking – such as any kind of formal written and signed agreement – to use her words “simply don’t exist”.

“How is it possible that there is no paper trail? That there is not even so much as a meeting brief, or meeting minutes, a submission or proposal; basically anything that formalises the deal, or sets out some terms and conditions.

“Is it truly the case that this NSW Labor Government agreed to a revised Murray-Darling Basin Plan, that supposedly provides more time for water delivery, and $700 million dollars for water projects, without any kind of contractual paperwork?

“This kind of obfuscation would be farcical, if it wasn’t so very deeply concerning; lives and livelihoods hang in the balance over what happens next in regard to how this government meets its water targets, and it appears we don’t even have so much as an understanding scribbled on the back of an envelope,” she said.

Ms Cooke said that unsurprisingly, Labor sided with the Greens in opposing the motion.

“We have given the government every opportunity to be up-front about their deal, but they continue to dodge all attempts to scrutinise the revised Basin Plan,” Ms Cooke said.

“This is a tipping point – the danger to our future prosperity is very real; they’re playing politics with an issue that goes directly to the heart of Australia’s way of life, and it’s just not good enough for this NSW Labor Government to keep the people of this state in the dark,” she said.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke says the current Lachlan Regional Water Strategy is alarmingly bereft of any significant long-term plans for water security within the region, and is calling on the NSW Labor Government to demonstrate some leadership on the issue, and commit to funding vital projects that will help improve the resilience of water resources.

Ms Cooke says this is the third time the strategy has been open for public exhibition, and yet there are still no projects that adequately address the region’s water needs over the coming decades.

“In our region, we have witnessed the impacts of drought and flood firsthand; that’s why we need to identify and invest in water infrastructure projects that will provide long-term water supply, along with safeguards during flooding events,” Ms Cooke said.

“The Lachlan Regional Water Strategy is supposed to set out a 20-to-40-year vision for the area, but alarmingly there are absolutely no major infrastructure projects for as far as the eye can see.

“And that’s where the raising of the Wyangala Dam wall came in. That was the project the former Coalition Government had identified as ticking all the boxes; it was a shovel-ready project, that provided the infrastructure the region needed to guarantee future water supply, while also mitigating against the damage caused by flooding events.

“As we know, the NSW Labor Government scrapped the Wyangala Dam project in September, but failed to come up with any kind of alternative solution. 

“They’ve had 12 years to come up with a plan, but it seems that now they have control of the ship, they’ve found themselves up the creek without a paddle! So much so, that the Water Minister came all the way to Orange last week to re-heat the announcement of funding for a project that is pretty much all but finished and paid for.

“This is simply not good enough; what we really need to see is some strong vision and leadership from this government, and for them to get moving on tangible projects right away, that provide practical solutions as soon as possible.

“To that end, I’m calling on the NSW Government to confirm funding for the Belubula Water Security Project. There are two key elements to this project: the first is the raising of the wall at Lake Rowlands by 2.2 metres, which would effectively double its storage capacity. Since 2020 more than 200GL has gone over the wall, and not a single drop has been captured; when we’re facing yet another dry-spell, that is simply not good enough.

“The second aspect that is critical is the pipeline linking Carcoar to Lake Rowlands; these are critical infrastructure projects that will help future-proof this region against droughts, and provide improved flood mitigation during significant rainfall events.

“What the Water Minister fails to understand is that access to reliable and sufficient water is not just an essential requirement for our daily lives, but also for the growth and prosperity of our region.

“We must prioritise and invest in infrastructure that ensures our water supply is sustainable, and resilient, and can withstand the challenges of drought, as well as flooding rain, and I hate to say it after this protracted consultation process, but the Lachlan Regional Water Strategy – not to mention this government – fails on all counts,” she said.

Photo caption: Steph Cooke discussing the Lachlan Regional Water Strategy with Cowra Mayor Ruth Fagan at Wyangala Dam.

Member for Cootamundra and Shadow Water Minister Steph Cooke says the NSW Labor Government’s decision to rip up plans to raise the Wyangala Dam wall, is a short-sighted move that demonstrates how clueless the Premier is when it comes to the needs of regional communities.

“The Premier said during the election campaign, that he did not ‘pretend to have any expertise about regional New South Wales’. Well Premier, today you have proven that to be very true,” Ms Cooke said.

“Make no mistake, this project – which would have increased Wyangala’s storage capacity by 53 per cent, or an additional 650GL – was crucial to delivering water security and drought resilience, not to mention flood mitigation benefits for communities right along the Lachlan, from Cowra to Forbes and beyond.

“This is a devastating blow to those communities, who will now be asking just how many floods and droughts will it take for the NSW Labor Government to take this project seriously?

“When you consider the hugely positive impacts that raising the dam wall would have had, today’s announcement is nothing short of reckless from a government that clearly doesn’t know what it’s doing when it comes to regional water issues, and simply doesn’t care about the lives and livelihoods of those who would have benefited from this project going forward.

“By ditching plans to raise the Wyangala Dam wall, the NSW Labor Government has today shown a complete disregard for the wellbeing of communities right along the Lachlan River, many of whom are still getting back on their feet following last year’s flooding, and who now face the prospect of yet another drought.

“The Water Minister says the plan doesn’t stack up financially, but what about the millions of dollars spent on flood and drought recovery, or the millions in lost revenue during dry times? The Minister claims the plan doesn’t make sense from an environmental perspective, but what about the impact on the environment that major flooding events and prolonged droughts have?

“Now that they’ve ripped up this idea, I call on the Premier and the Water Minister to release the unredacted business case, and prove they aren’t completely turning their backs on the communities impacted by this decision, by immediately putting forward alternative plans that specifically address the long-term issues this project was seeking to address,” she said.

MEDIA: Young Electorate Office | 02 6382 2399.

Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke has written to Water Minister Rose Jackson, putting the NSW State Government on notice when it comes to cutting funding for vital water infrastructure in the forthcoming state budget.

Set up by the previous Liberal/Nationals Government, Ms Cooke said it is imperative the NSW Labor Government honours previous funding allocations made under the Safe and Secure Water Program, while also committing to further investments going forward.

“I am increasingly concerned about the lack of commitment shown by the Government to this vitally important and hugely successful investment program,” Ms Cooke said.

“The Safe and Secure Water Program is fundamental to delivering quality water services and supply to communities in regional NSW, and I have written to the Water Minister to caution against diverting funding into areas other than water infrastructure,” she said.

In the letter, Ms Cooke highlighted examples within the Cootamundra electorate, of towns and villages in need of funding under the Safe and Secure Water Program.

“Residents in the township of Boorowa are in desperate need of a permanent solution to their water quality and supply issues, while in Bribbaree, residents are reliant on bore water, which landholders are responsible for pumping,” Ms Cooke said.

“Similarly, those living in Narrandera can’t always rely on the quality of their water supply, with some describing it as ‘undrinkable’.

“As drought conditions loom, now is not the time to remove funding opportunities that have previously bolstered our water outcomes.

“We simply cannot afford to see the Safe and Secure Water Program taken away; the impacts of such narrow-minded decision making will be nothing short of catastrophic for the families and businesses that call regional NSW home,” she said.

Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke was among the state and federal MPs who joined regional industry leaders and stakeholders at the annual Bush Summit in Tamworth, to raise concerns and discuss solutions to issues impacting rural and regional Australia.

“The summit is always a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on the unique challenges facing communities across regional NSW, including those in our electorate,” Ms Cooke said.

“The summit canvassed a wide range of topics and priority areas that most certainly deserve the NSW Government’s full attention, especially given Labor’s first budget is just around the corner.

“With dry conditions starting to bite in certain areas, water security and drought preparedness were at the top of the agenda. Some are rightly concerned about issues surrounding the supply of water in parts of regional NSW, in addition to the apparent absence of a much-needed road map to deal with the looming drought.  

“The summit also made clear the urgency around housing supply shortages in regional areas, and the need to recognise and plan appropriately for the demands of an ever-changing demographic.

“Measures to help alleviate the chronic shortage of health professionals across NSW are always welcome, but as the summit rightly identified, expanding the cash incentive scheme for health service workers is just the start; the government must do more to address critical workforce shortages across the board, including teachers, childcare workers, and police.

“As many across regional NSW are well aware, more needs to be done to safeguard against the impact of natural disasters, and I along with my colleagues will be closely scrutinising the government’s actions in this space.

“The summit also underscored the urgency in finding a middle ground when it comes to the construction of renewable energy transmission lines on farming properties, which is an issue that The Nationals have long been vocal about.

“The government inherited a range of programs all designed to empower regional communities large and small, and it is incumbent upon Labor to not only retain, but to strengthen this support in the upcoming budget.

“Actions speak louder than words; it’s not enough to simply talk about the issues we’re facing out here in regional NSW, we need to see tangible results on the ground.

“The summit successfully and succinctly identified the areas that need the government’s full attention, and it’s now time the premier and his colleagues show they’re listening, and act collaboratively and decisively to address these concerns, and provide the support our resilient regional communities need, to continue to grow and thrive well into the future,” she said.

Wyangala’s new $5 million water treatment plant is on track to be completed by mid-2023.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the project was gaining momentum with the infrastructure expected to be finished by the end of March, weather permitting, before it moves into a two-month commissioning phase.

“The contractors have been kicking goals and its great to see them getting closer to the finishing line because the plant will transform water quality and reliability for residents and visitors to the Wyangala Waters Holiday Park,” Ms Cooke said.

“Despite having to contend with unprecedented flooding and rainfall, the project team have kept the delays to a minimum and are now in the last phase of construction.

“The modern water treatment plant will deliver up to 800,000 litres of top quality, drinking water every day which will be lifechanging for the 200 permanent locals, as well as the thousands of people who visit the holiday park every year.”

A lot of the structural work on the main building along with pipelines is nearly finished and builders are now installing compressors, tanks, and pumps as well as cables and electrical equipment. 

Cowra Mayor Cr Bill West said the new infrastructure will be a significant Council asset that will bring water services at Wyangala into the 21^st century.

“The plant is located above the village and dam and will house the filtration and chemical processes that will deliver treated drinking water to both locals and the holiday park,” Cr West said.

“Once the plant begins operating, it will ensure that potable water that meets the current Australian Drinking Water Guidelines will be available at Wyangala. This is great news, not only for the village community, but for visitors to the region and will help unlock the tourism potential for the area.”

So far, more than $1 million has been injected into the regional economy with the contractor Enviropacific Services using the services of more than 100 local businesses and employing one third of its workforce locally.

The project has been funded by the NSW and Australian Governments.