Four councils in New South Wales will receive new infrastructure to deliver improved water security, Federal Minister for Water, Senator Penny Wong, has announced.

Four councils and two water corporations will implement water saving projects worth $17 million.

Senator Wong said the projects will have the capacity to deliver combined water savings of around 5 billion litres a year, easing the demand on local drinking water supplies.

“Urban water supplies are under increasing pressure from changing population patterns and the emerging effects of climate change,” Senator Wong said.

“Through an investment of over $1 billion in desalination, water recycling and stormwater, the Rudd Government is helping Australia’s cities and towns tackle this challenge.

“These projects are all about assisting local communities and businesses secure water supplies in a future with less water.”
Projects receiving funding will recycle water for irrigating community facilities such as sports fields; provide local industries with secure water supplies through stormwater capture and reuse schemes; and increase the capacity of the Kooragang water recycling plant in Newcastle as part of a wider goal to replace around 5 per cent of the Hunter’s potable water use a year by 2014.

Successful applications receiving funding under the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns and National Urban Water and Desalination Plan programs:

• Bathurst Regional Council: $830,100
• Hunter Water Corporation: $8,850,000
• MidCoast Water: $6,189,000
• Oberon City Council: $1,000,000
• Port Macquarie-Hastings Council: $350,000
• Wingecarribee Shire Council: $606,725