Steph Cooke MP
Member for Cootamundra

Steph Cooke MP at the Boorowa Water Treatment Plant. In this National Water Week, Shadow Minister for Water Steph Cooke is urging NSW residents to consider their community’s water future and join the conversation about the infrastructure needed to secure it. National Water Week was established to remind communities to use water wisely and never take access to safe, secure, and reliable water for granted. This year’s National Water Week comes at a critical time, with communiti

Steph Cooke MP with Shadow Health Minister Sarah Mitchell and Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan at the 9th Cootamundra Mayoral Summit. Pressure is mounting on the Minns Labor Government to address the state’s estimated $5 billion water infrastructure backlog, with regional communities warning that years of underinvestment is putting increasing strain on essential water assets. Last month, Shadow Minister for Water Steph Cooke announced a $5 billion infrastructure

Steph Cooke MP at the Boorowa Water Treatment Plant. Member for Cootamundra and NSW Shadow Minister for Water, Steph Cooke, has put forward a plan to address the growing backlog of regional water infrastructure projects across the state, including those in the Cootamundra electorate. Ms Cooke has proposed investing $5 billion in water infrastructure over 10 years to address water insecurity and support future housing growth in the regions through a first-of-its-kind fund.

Steph Cooke MP with Hilltops Council Staff at Boorowa's Water Treatment Plant. During Budget Estimates yesterday, NSW Minister for Water Rose Jackson confirmed that NSW is facing a multi-billion-dollar shortfall in critical water infrastructure, and that the Minns Labor Government has allocated no new funding to capital projects in communities at risk of water insecurity. Scrutiny during the hearing centred on the Safe and Secure Water Program and the scale of infrastruct

The Minns Labor Government has neglected the state’s primary funding program for town water infrastructure for the fourth consecutive year, despite NSW facing a multi-billion-dollar backlog in critical projects. The Safe and Secure Water Program was established by the former Coalition Government to support the design and construction of essential capital works projects that ensure regional communities have access to safe and reliable drinking water. Since being elected in

Steph Cooke MP with long-time Narrandera Resident Polly Rombola. The Deed of Agreement concerning Narrandera’s future Water Treatment Plant has been executed following sustained pressure from the Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke. The deed was critical in enabling Narrandera Shire Council to progress detailed design and business case work for the project, which aims to deliver clean water to the town. Until this week, the NSW Government had not handed the deed to the co

Steph Cooke MP at the Narrandera Shire Council Chambers. The NSW Labor Government has failed to sign the required Deed of Agreement to progress Narrandera’s Water Treatment Plant business case, nearly six months after Commonwealth funding was awarded. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, said the ongoing delay is preventing Narrandera Shire Council from progressing critical work to deliver clean drinking water to the community. In December last year, the Commonwealth Gove

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

Steph Cooke MP with Hilltops Mayor Brian Ingram. Water security for Boorowa and Narrandera remains uncertain, as New South Wales grapples with a multi-billion-dollar backlog of critical infrastructure projects. A recent report from the Auditor-General found that at least $1 billion is required to support water infrastructure across regional and rural NSW, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing communities. In response, Local Government NSW warned that a continued

NSW Councils have been left high and dry by the Minns Labor Government, with no funding opportunities available to support critical town water projects. The former Liberal and Nationals Government’s $1.1 billion Safe and Secure Water Program remains fully allocated, with no new money invested in the program since Labor was elected in 2023. With the state’s primary funding avenue for town water utilities to improve water security and water quality in regional towns unavailabl

Friday, 5 December 2025 Design for a permanent Water Treatment Plant in Narrandera will commence, with the Commonwealth Government stepping up to support the delivery of clean drinking water to the community in place of their state counterparts. $908,000 has been awarded from the National Water Grid Fund, which will pay for the plans needed to support the construction phase of this essential infrastructure project. This is the second time Narrandera Council has been force

Wednesday, 26 November 2025 A united campaign to secure safe, clean drinking water for Narrandera is gaining momentum with local leaders calling on the NSW Labor Government to approve immediate relief measures and commit to long-term investment in the town’s water infrastructure. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, along with Narrandera Shire Council led by Mayor Neville Kschenka, are calling on the NSW Labor Government to implement emergency safeguards that guarantee the

Thursday, 23 January 2025 Barellan’s new sewerage system is now connected to 90% of homes in the village, marking a major milestone for...

9 December 2024 The Minns Labor Government’s neglect of the Safe and Secure Water Program has left regional and rural communities...

Wednesday, 23 August 2023 Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke has written to Water Minister Rose Jackson, putting the NSW State...

​​Friday, 26 June 2020​ The first sod has been turned at the multi-million dollar upgrade of the Grenfell Sewerage Treatment Plant. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke broke ground on the $12.3 million project, which has been funded through the NSW Government’s Restart NSW, Water Security for Regions, Water Backlog program and the Safe and Secure Water Program. Ms Cooke said the project would modernise Grenfell’s sewerage treatment infrastructure with new and efficient techn

​​Wednesday, 14 August 2019​ Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke joined Minister for Water Melinda Pavey today to help Weddin Shire Council Mayor Mark Liebich celebrate $12.3 million in funding for a new sewage treatment plant. Grenfell Sewage Treatment Plant will provide state-of-the-art facilities for Grenfell, funded by the NSW Government’s Water Backlog Program and Safe and Secure Water Program. “The existing plant will receive upgrades and will be complemented by a new pl