5 September 2024
Member for Cootamundra and Shadow Minister for Water Steph Cooke reaffirmed her commitment to water security for communities and primary producers across the Lachlan Valley Catchment at the Annual General Meeting of the Lachlan Valley Water organisation in Cowra.
Speaking at the meeting on Wednesday, Ms Cooke emphasised that despite raising significant concerns over the past 18 months, communities are still without answers to the region’s ongoing challenges - with little progress toward a secure water future.
"Water is our most crucial resource. Without it, we cannot grow food, support farming, or secure the future of our growing towns," Ms Cooke said.
"Our farmers are innovative and resilient, but they need reliable water access to continue producing the food and fibre that sustains us all.
At the meeting, key concerns were raised about the increasing regulatory burdens and the ongoing delays in delivering meaningful infrastructure projects. Ms Cooke reaffirmed her commitment to pushing for action on these issues.
"Nearly a year ago, I highlighted our region's urgent need for real, visionary water solutions. Today, we’re still waiting. The Draft Lachlan Valley Regional Water Strategy remains unfinished, and the projects that could secure our water future, like raising the Wyangala Dam wall, have been scrapped. No significant new alternatives have been implemented to address the water security and flood mitigation challenges that communities and producers throughout the Lachlan Catchment continue to face."
Ms Cooke also underscored the importance of involving local voices, such as those from Lachlan Valley Water, in water management decisions and criticised the growing centralisation of these processes.
“Government needs to listen to the people with lived experience – in many cases over generations - who understand our rivers and water systems best, and their insights should guide government decisions."
"Instead of managing our catchments and water systems from hundreds of kilometres away, we need to incorporate the knowledge of local communities by having locally based WaterNSW staff,” Ms Cooke said.
Looking ahead, Ms Cooke said that the upcoming Budget Estimates in Macquarie Street Sydney would provide an important opportunity to hold the NSW Government accountable for its lack of progress on water management.
"Our primary producers and communities deserve a fair go when it comes to water security and flood mitigation. I will continue to push for the concrete, forward-thinking solutions our region needs."
Photo: Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke at Lachlan Valley Water AGM
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