--- title: NSW Water Strategy charts state's path to the future description: The NSW government has launched the NSW Water Strategy, a 20-year blueprint for resilient and sustainable water resources across the state. --- [![Indigo by AWA logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Indigo_colour.png?height=24&name=Indigo_colour.png)](https://indigo.awa.asn.au/) [![Ozwater logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Ozwater.png?height=24&name=Ozwater.png)](https://www.ozwater.org/) [![Careers in Water logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png?height=24&name=Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png)](https://www.careersinwater.com.au/) [![NWW logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/NWW.png?height=24&name=NWW.png)](https://www.nationalwaterweek.org/) - [Join ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-user-icon.svg "user icon")](https://www.awa.asn.au/new-registration) - 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[ Upcoming Events ](https://www.awa.asn.au/upcoming-events) - [ Events Calendar ](https://www.awa.asn.au/national-events-calendar) - [ Ozwater ](https://www.awa.asn.au/events/ozwater) - [ Photo Gallery ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/133291504@N03/albums) - [ Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards) Show submenu for Awards ![Plus icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-menu-plus-icon.svg) ![Plus icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-menu-minus-icon.svg) - [ Awards Overview ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards) - [ Individual Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards-individual) - [ Chris Davis AM Fellowship ](https://www.awa.asn.au/chris-davis-am-fellowship) - [ Guy Parker Award ](https://www.awa.asn.au/guy-parker-award) - [ Organisation Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards-organisation) - [ Student Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/student-awards) - [ Australian Stockholm Junior Water Prize ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards/student-awards/asjwp) - 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Treated stormwater is being used to provide up to 25% of Orange’s supply.” ## Key priorities The strategy outlines targets for [water management](https://watersource.awa.asn.au/environment/natural-environment/better-river-management-relies-on-understanding-their-geomorphology/) in the state under seven key priorities, including: - building community confidence and capacity through engagement, transparency and accountability; - recognising First Nations/Aboriginal people’s rights and values and increase access to and ownership of water for cultural and economic purposes; - improving river, floodplain and aquifer ecosystem health, and system connectivity; - increasing resilience to changes in water availability (variability and climate change); - supporting economic growth and resilient industries within a capped system; - supporting resilient, prosperous and liveable cities and towns; and - enabling a future focused, capable and innovative water sector. The strategy establishes an overarching vision for the 12 regional and two metropolitan water strategies also being developed, which are tailored to the specific needs of [each region](https://watersource.awa.asn.au/business/assets-and-operations/regional-councils-need-hand-up-not-handout-ensure-water-security/) in the state. Pavey said the strategy will help the state prepare for future water challenges, including higher demand for water and a more variable climate. “People living in NSW make up more than a third of Australia’s population, and over the next 20 years, our state will grow by 2.8 million. We need the right infrastructure in place to enable this growth, knowing the challenges we face with a changing climate,” Pavey said. “The recent drought was one of the worst and most extreme on record, and it hit our communities hard. Our water supplies were stretched to their limits. “But the drought also brought about creative and innovative ideas about infrastructure investment, with many communities having to source different means of increasing their supply. “While many of our dams are now full or starting to spill, we know drought will come again, so now is the time to make decisions to ensure our communities, industries and environment thrive, now and into the future.” The strategy also coincides with the launch of the Water Project Map, a new tool providing access to information about all water infrastructure projects across NSW. The map shows areas of investment for critical water infrastructure projects, details of the projects and how they are helping communities. Progress on the strategy will be monitored with the development of an integrated framework for reviewing and reporting, and the strategy will be formally evaluated, reviewed and updated at least every five years. [ Featured News ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/featured-news) [ Melinda Pavey ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/melinda-pavey) [ Water Project Map ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/water-project-map) [ Recycled Water ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/recycled-water) [ NSW ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/nsw) [ Assets & Operations ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/assets-and-operations) [ NSW Water Strategy ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/nsw-water-strategy) [ Resilience ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/resilience) [ Water Management ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/water-management) Share [![email icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-email.svg "email icon") ](mailto:?subject=NSW%20Water%20Strategy%20charts%20state's%20path%20to%20the%20future&body=Check%20out%20https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/nsw-water-strategy-charts-states-path-future) [![facebook-icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-facebook.svg "facebook icon") ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/nsw-water-strategy-charts-states-path-future) [![LinkedIn icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-linkedin.svg "LinkedIn icon") ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/nsw-water-strategy-charts-states-path-future) [![Twitter icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-twitter.svg "Twitter icon") ](https://twitter.com/home?status=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/nsw-water-strategy-charts-states-path-future) ## RELATED NEWS ### [ NSW charts future with 20-year water strategy ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/nsw-charts-future-20-year-water-strategy) Elle Hardy The New South Wales government is developing a 20-year statewide strategy to improve resilience of the state’s water resources. [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/nsw-charts-future-20-year-water-strategy) ### [ Rebates, drought relief in NSW budget ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/rebates-drought-relief-in-nsw-budget) Cecilia Harris In a bid to support sustainable, secure and healthy water resources, the NSW Government has committed $700 million in the 2020-21… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/rebates-drought-relief-in-nsw-budget) ### [ Why NSW has to do water differently ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/workplace/nsw-water-ceo-we-have-to-do-water-very-differently-in-the-future) Water Source Creating a sustainable water future doesn’t just mean building infrastructure – it also requires changing community attitudes to… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/workplace/nsw-water-ceo-we-have-to-do-water-very-differently-in-the-future) Advertising --- ### Subscribe to our newsletters Sign up to get the latest news and insights from us Advertising --- ![white arrow pointing upwards](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-white-arrow-up.svg) Top [![Footer-logo-02](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/Footer-logo-02.svg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/) The **Australian Water Association** acknowledges the Traditional Custodians across Australia, where we live, work and play, for their deep connection to our precious waters and land. 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