2019 Local Government NSW Conference Actions – Last Updated January 2021
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2019 Local Government NSW Conference Actions – last updated January 2021 The full list of Ministerial responses to annual conference resolutions can be found here. The full list of LGNSW submissions can be found here. Resolution Consistent with Consistent with Position LGNSW Actions Responses and outcomes to date LGNSW LGNSW Statement Fundamental Position updated (if need Principles? Statements? be?) 3 Uralla Shire Council - Drought recovery Consistent with Add to Drought Updated Letter(s) to: Response received from the Hon. David That Local Government NSW lobbies the NSW and Federal Government to Economic (A), Position • Premier, the Hon. Gladys Berejiklian MP Littleproud MP, Minister for Water Resources, provide funding to assist communities to deal with the effects of drought Infrastructure (C), Statement • Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and locally, and that funding be set aside to assist the community to recover from Planning (D) and Industry and Trade, the Hon John Barilaro MP Emergency Management on 27 May 2020. the drought after the immediate effects have diminished and that recovery Social and • Minister for Water, Property and Housing, the Hon. coordinators be appointed through the Joint Organisations to facilitate Community (G) Melinda Pavey MP Response received from the Minister for Water, drought recovery. Fundamental • Federal Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Property and Housing via the Hon. Shelley Principles Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Hancock MP, Minister for Local Government Management, The Hon David Littleproud MP on 24 August 2020. In February 2020 LGNSW made a submission to the Ongoing advocacy in resolution has resulted in Inquiry into Support for Drought Affected Communities in a number of wins including NSW. − $1.7 billion commitment by the NSW and Federal Governments to fund water infrastructure projects across 21 projects, including the $650 million upgrade of Wyangala Dam in the state’s Central West and a $480 million new Dungowan Dam near Tamworth. − The NSW Governments $170 Drought Stimulus Package, largely directed to councils for local infrastructure projects, including critical water supply projects. − The Federal Drought Communities Program that provided 66 eligible NSW councils up to $1 million* to complete local infrastructure and other drought relief projects 4 LGNSW Board –Water Security Consistent with Add to Drought Updated Letter(s) to: Response received from the Hon. David That Local Government NSW calls on the NSW Government to develop, in Economic (A), Position • Premier, the Hon. Gladys Berejiklian MP Littleproud MP, Minister for Water Resources, consultation with local government and Aboriginal custodial communities: Infrastructure (C), Statement • Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and 1. A comprehensive, integrated and funded emergency plan to Planning (D) and Industry and Trade, the Hon John Barilaro MP Emergency Management on 27 May 2020. address the immediate water supply crisis afflicting NSW towns and Social and • Minister for Water, Property and Housing, the Hon. communities and a disaster recovery plan for when the drought Response received from the Minister for Water, Community (G) Melinda Pavey MP breaks. These plans should: Property and Housing via the Hon. Shelley Fundamental • Federal Minister for Water Resources, Drought, a) provide greater flexibility, such as allowing temporary transfer Hancock MP, Minister for Local Government Principles Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency of water, where the water does not have current on 24 August 2020. The Minister advised: Management, The Hon David Littleproud MP allocations/licensing and it is within the same water source; b) ensure that town water supplies will be secured and The Water Supply Critical Needs Act (2019) maintained; and In February 2020 LGNSW made a submission to the came into force in November 2019. This Act Inquiry into Support for Drought Affected Communities in c) ensure that appropriate consultation is undertaken, when gives local water utilities at risk of running out of issuing bore licences and other relief measures. NSW. water, an alternative pathway to fast-track 2. Long term (30-40 year) water supply strategies for catchments projects to secure their water supply. This will throughout the State that mitigate the risks from future droughts LGNSW also made a submission to the Productivity and the predicted impact of climate change to help ensure Commission Inquiry into the National Water Initiative in be in situations when the usual planning population and economic growth targets can be achieved and August 2020. approval pathways may not be quick enough to supported. These strategies should not exclude ambitious prevent a town from running out of water. Public infrastructure projects of the scale of the Snowy Mountain Scheme, In August 2020 LGNSW Made a pre-Budget submission authorities should consider if existing pathways while storm water harvesting, reuse and recycling and demand to the NSW Government that included advocacy on key will enable timely project delivery. If not, then management initiatives should feature as key elements of those issues for local water utilities. they may request listing to access the alternate plans. pathway provided in the Act. This issue was also raised by Bourke Shire, Tamworth Regional, Cabonne LGNSW held its Water Management Conference in The NSW Government supports local water Shire, Bellingen Shire, Lachlan Shire, Federation, Orange City, Parkes October 2020. The theme of the conference was Water utilities' investment in water security Shire, Greater Hume Shire, Narromine Shire and Warrumbungle Shire Security and experts in the field spoke on the latest infrastructure through the $1 billion Safe and Councils. research and developments that can offer councils Secure Water Program (SSWP). The SSWP includes the provision of co-funding for 2019 Local Government NSW Conference Actions 1 practical solutions on how to better mitigate against solutions to address high priority water security severe drought in the future. risks as well as for the development of IWCM strategies. In emergencies, such as in the In November 2020, LGNSW made a second Budget current drought, the NSW Government also submission to the NSW Government that included works with local water utilities by providing advocacy related to local water utilities. funding and technical expertise to address urgent town water security issues. LGNSW also meets with DPIE on a regular basis and In addition, the NSW Government is using has continued to advocate throughout the year for funds from the Snowy Hydro Legacy fund to increased funding to support councils throughout the fast• track the development of 20-year regional drought and to help build improved resilience into local water strategies for 12 regional areas. These water utilities so they can better mitigate against the strategies will help provide long-term, tailored effects of drought. water management solutions for our regional communities by better understanding the opportunities and challenges of each region. Ongoing advocacy in response to this resolution has resulted in a number of wins including • $1.7 billion commitment by the NSW and Federal Governments to fund water infrastructure projects across 21 projects, including the $650 million upgrade of Wyangala Dam in the state’s Central West and a $480 million new Dungowan Dam near Tamworth. • The NSW Governments $170 Drought Stimulus Package, largely directed to councils for local infrastructure projects, including critical water supply projects. • The Federal Drought Communities Program that provided 66 eligible NSW councils up to $1 million* to complete local infrastructure and other drought relief projects. 4.1 LGNSW Board –Drought Responses Consistent with Add to Drought Updated Letter(s) to: Acknowledgement received from the Deputy That LGNSW calls for the development and implementation of integrated Economic (A), Position • Premier, the Hon. Gladys Berejiklian MP Premier, Minister for Regional NSW Industry long term National, State Drought Policies and Plans. Elements of the policy Infrastructure (C), Statement • Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW and Trade office indicating the correspondence must include: Planning (D) and Industry and Trade, the Hon John Barilaro MP will be assessed and a response provided later. 1. A commitment to provide long term water security and related Social and • Minister for Water, Property and Housing, the Hon. Response received from the Hon. David initiatives such as fodder banks Community (G) Littleproud MP, Minister for Water Resources, 2. Bringing forward planned water infrastructure projects and Melinda Pavey MP Fundamental Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and identifying new infrastructure projects that will assist in providing • Federal Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Principles Emergency Management on 27 May 2020. long term water security Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency 3. Supports demand managements and water saving initiatives down Management, The Hon David Littleproud MP Response received from the Minister for Water, to the household level Property and Housing via the Hon. Shelley 4. Stronger support for emergency responses such as water carting In February 2020 LGNSW made a submission to the Hancock MP, Minister for Local Government 5. A review of Water Sharing Plans,