Earlier this year the Australian Government invited community members and stakeholders with an interest in water resource planning and management to have a say on the development of a new national water agreement. The response from the NSW water sector was strong, and the feedback has helped to refine the proposed objectives and outcomes of the agreement. The Australian Government has now opened consultation on the next stage of development and is inviting you to have a say on the proposed principles of the agreement.

Why we need a new water national agreement?
The current National Water Initiative (NWI) is a shared commitment by governments to increase Australia’s water use efficiency, provide investment confidence, security of supply for rural and urban communities, and greater certainty for the environment. We now face significant and ever-increasing challenges, and a new national water agreement can help address these challenges by building on and modernising the NWI. A new national agreement also offers the opportunity to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to elevate their cultural, spiritual, social, economic, and environmental water interests within Australia’s water management frameworks.

Have your say
The Australian Government wants your views on key areas of the new agreement relating to climate change, urban water, and science, knowledge and partnerships. To have your say on a new agreement visit the Australian Government’s consultation hub. Consultation is open until Thursday 12 September 2024.

Learn more
The Australian Government is holding a one hour webinar at 3.30pm AEST on Wednesday August 21 to explain the consultation process, how you can have your say, what they’ve heard to date, and to outline the next steps. You can register here or email NWI@dcceew.gov.au for a link to join the webinar.