Steph Cooke MP
Member for Cootamundra

Narrandera residents with Narrandera Council representatives, and Nationals leaders. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke is calling on the NSW Government to deploy a temporary water treatment plant to Narrandera, with neither the State nor Federal Government committing to fund a permanent infrastructure solution. The call follows a Roundtable hosted by Ms Cooke in Narrandera on Sunday, attended by Nationals Leader Matt Canavan, Federal Shadow Water Minister Michael McCormack,

My mate Tubby Allen is a hardworking farmer from Burcher in western NSW. A better bloke you’ll struggle to find. I’ve known him for years, but don’t ask for his real name. “Tubby” is all anyone has ever needed.   When Tubby reaches out, it’s because there’s a real problem. This time, it’s water.   Burcher is on Level 6 restrictions. But in Burcher, it’s worse again. The village water supply is raw, non‑potable water and must not be used for drinking, cooking or showering. In

The Minns Labor Government failed to complete a business case for the Wilcannia Weir project before approaching the Commonwealth for funding, despite now blaming the Federal Government for the project’s collapse.   Last week, NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson confirmed the long-awaited project would be shelved, citing a lack of additional Commonwealth funding.   However, during Budget Estimates on Wednesday, the Minister admitted that the business case required to support the f

The Minns Labor Government has abandoned the people of Wilcannia and the broader Far West, shelving the long-awaited Wilcannia Weir replacement project.   Shadow Minister for Water Steph Cooke said the decision is a betrayal of a community that has fought for more than three decades to secure a safe, reliable and drought-proof water supply.   “Late on a Friday afternoon, when newsrooms in the Far West were logging off for the week, the Minister for Water quietly announced the