Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Draft Lower Hunter Water Security Plan August 2021 Published by NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment dpie.nsw.gov.au Title: Draft Lower Hunter Water Security Plan First published: August 2021 Department reference number: PUB21/464 Cover image: Image courtesy of Destination NSW. The Riverlink building on the banks of the Hunter River, Maitland. © State of New South Wales through Department of Planning, Industry and Environment 2021. You may copy, distribute, display, download and otherwise freely deal with this publication for any purpose provided you attribute the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment as the owner. However, you must obtain permission if you wish to charge others for access to the publication (other than at cost); include the publication in advertising or a product for sale; modify the publication; or republish the publication on a website. You may freely link to the publication on a departmental website. Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (August 2021) and may not be accurate, current or complete. The State of New South Wales (including the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment), the author and the publisher take no responsibility, and will accept no liability, for the accuracy, currency, reliability or correctness of any information included in the document (including material provided by third parties). Readers should make their own inquiries and rely on their own advice when making decisions related to material contained in this publication. 2 Department of Planning, Industry and Environment | Draft Lower Hunter Water Security Plan Acknowledgment of Country The NSW Government acknowledges Aboriginal people as Australia’s first people practising the oldest living culture on earth and as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters across NSW. Hunter Water operates across the traditional Country of the Awabakai, Birpai, Darkinjung, Wonaruah and Worimi peoples, and recognises and respects their cultural heritage, beliefs and continuing relationship with the land and waterways of the Lower Hunter. NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment recognises the intrinsic connection of Traditional Owners to Country and acknowledges their contribution to the management of landscapes, water and other natural resources across NSW. We pay our respects to all Elders past, present and future. The department and Hunter Water understand the need for consultation and inclusion of Traditional Owner knowledge, values and uses in water planning to ensure we are working towards equality in objectives and outcomes. We are committed to continuing future relationships and building strong partnerships with Aboriginal people. Artwork Artwork courtesy of Saretta Fielding. Artwork title Mariin Kaling – All for Water. Department of Planning, Industry and Environment | Draft Lower Hunter Water Security Plan 3 Contents Minister’s foreword 6 Hunter Water’s Managing Director’s foreword 7 Lower Hunter Water Security Plan: at a glance 8 Lower Hunter Water Security Plan 12 1. Setting the scene 14 1.1 Alignment with other planning processes 20 1.2 Water supply in the Lower Hunter — where we are now 23 1.3 Current water use in the Lower Hunter 30 1.4 Supporting growth in the Lower Hunter 32 2. Why we need a new plan 34 2.1 Our understanding of climate variability is changing 35 2.2 We need a new approach to planning for drought 37 2.3 Ensuring a reliable water supply to meet the community’s needs 41 3. Developing the plan 44 3.1 Community engagement program 47 3.2 Understanding community values 52 3.3 Assessing options 53 3.4 Building and assessing programs of actions 56 3.5 What we found 58 4. Our plan for the future 60 4.1 Priority 1: Safe drinking water 62 4.2 Priority 2: Making the most of what we’ve got 64 4.3 Priority 3: Improving the resilience of the system 70 4.4 Priority 4: Water for life 80 4.5 Benefits of the plan 82 5. Implementing the plan 86 5.1 Actions at a glance 87 5.2 Ongoing monitoring and adaptation 93 6. We want to hear from you 94 Glossary 96 4 Department of Planning, Industry and Environment | Draft Lower Hunter Water Security Plan Photography Image courtesy of iStock. Bridge over the Hunter River, NSW. Department of Planning, Industry and Environment | Draft Lower Hunter Water Security Plan 5 Minister’s foreword The Lower Hunter is a thriving region of New South Wales. The growing metropolitan centre of Newcastle is at its heart, with surrounding communities enjoying enviable lifestyles in the city’s suburbs, coastal towns, rural and historic villages and regional centres. The region is home to many generations of the Awabakal, Birpai, Darkinjung, Wonaruah and Worimi people who retain their deep connection with and obligation to care for country, including the region’s waterways, wetlands and estuaries. The Hunter is Australia’s largest regional economy, valued at over $40 billion per extensive engagement program spanning more year. Water is the precious resource that than three years. A collaborative approach enables this flourishing economy, supports to future planning between water managers, a growing population and sustains a healthy government, community, industry and business natural environment. has also been vital to the preparation of the plan. The NSW Government is committed to ensuring We have also learned much from the recent that the Lower Hunter has the resilient and drought about managing our water resources and sustainable water supply it needs to continue this lived experience has been put to good use in to thrive into the future. This means recognising identifying options to secure the water future for that new approaches are needed to secure the the Lower Hunter. region’s water supply as we manage an increasing The Department of Planning, Industry and demand for water alongside a changing climate, Environment and Hunter Water have worked in including the prospect of prolonged droughts and partnership to develop the Lower Hunter Water more extreme weather events. Security Plan and align it with our statewide NSW There is no ‘one size fits all’ policy that is suitable Water Strategy. The plan will be delivered largely for managing water across all of NSW’s regions. by Hunter Water as the provider of water and That is why we have been working closely with wastewater services to the Lower Hunter region, local water utilities, councils, businesses and with support from the NSW Government as communities to develop targeted strategies and required and appropriate. plans that meet the current and future water I greatly appreciate the considerable work needs of each region and that reflect local undertaken by Hunter Water in developing the circumstances and conditions. Developing the plan. I also appreciate the engagement by local Lower Hunter Water Security Plan has required an government in the development of the plan. The in-depth understanding of the diverse needs and continued partnership approach from Central competing priorities of the Lower Hunter region, Coast, Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, including considering where future industry and Maitland, Newcastle, Port Stephens and Singleton population growth are likely to occur, while also councils is essential to ensuring the plan responds expanding our knowledge about the potential to the needs of catchments that extend across impacts of climate change on the region and its local government boundaries. water resources. The plan is underpinned by a clear understanding The Hon Melinda Pavey MP of community values, shared with us via an Minister for Water, Property and Housing 6 Department of Planning, Industry and Environment | Draft Lower Hunter Water Security Plan Hunter Water’s Managing Director’s foreword For more than 125 years, Hunter Water has been supplying water, wastewater, stormwater and recycled water services to homes and businesses across the Lower Hunter region. We are proud of our record of service to our region and we are committed to continuing to do our work with excellence and to putting our customers and community at the heart of our decisions and future plans. the next drought comes along and that up-front Hunter Water has embraced the opportunity investments and actions are needed to be sure to support the NSW Government in its efforts the Lower Hunter has enough water during a long to ensure a secure water supply for the Lower and severe drought. Hunter as the region faces the challenges of a growing population, an expanding economy and In preparing this draft Lower Hunter Water changing climate conditions. Security Plan, people across the region—from households and businesses to local councils and We have focused on improving the efficiency of other stakeholders—have told us they want us our water system and have reduced leakage by to make better use of what we have, through 34% over the last four years. We have continued continuing our efforts to reduce our demand to work with our community to assist them in for water, but are also open to investing in new conserving water, and they have responded sources of supply and improving our readiness reducing demand by 11% in 2019-20. These actions for future droughts. We have worked with the make the most of what we have, increasing NSW Government to reflect these views and our ability to respond to drought and deferring to incorporate our community’s values and investment to service growth. While these aspirations in the plan. actions are essential, and will continue to remain a priority, by themselves they are not enough. Hunter Water looks forward to receiving further input, ideas and comments from our community We have led the development of the Lower on the program of options proposed in the draft Hunter Water Security Plan because we know plan and how we can work together to deliver the that we need to start planning now to make sure final Lower Hunter Water Security Plan.