--- title: NSW charts future with 20-year water strategy description: The NSW Government is developing a 20-year, statewide strategy to improve resilience of the state’s water resources. --- [![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) - [Member Hub ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-locked-icon.svg "user icon")](https://memberhub.awa.asn.au) - 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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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It is based on [12 regional and two metropolitan water strategies](https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/water/plans-programs/regional-water-strategies) which set out the approach to maintaining and building the resilience of the state’s water resources, including in response to climate variability and change. Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the strategy will help prepare the state’s regions and cities for future growth. “It will put water on the same footing as other essential resources and services in New South Wales,” she said. “Every person in New South Wales, no matter where they live, has a right to safe drinking water at home and a secure water supply for their community.” She added that the state has learned a lot from recent droughts and consultations with other state governments. “New South Wales has also invested in new water modelling and data sets that give us a much better understanding of likely future climate conditions — an important advance in water planning,” she said. “Water supplies are particularly vulnerable in regional areas, putting towns, farms and industry at risk. We need to prepare now for a future where water resources and services may come under even greater stress than we’ve experienced in recent years.” The strategy aims to guide water [service delivery](https://watersource.awa.asn.au/community/customers/how-can-utilities-keep-up-with-changing-customer-expectations/) and resource management across the state, as well as identify key challenges, opportunities, strategic priorities and actions. It will also clearly articulate the water resource management and service delivery framework and policy context for NSW, including how the [Murray-Darling Basin Plan](https://watersource.awa.asn.au/business/assets-and-operations/minister-new-chapter-murray-darling-management/) and statewide, regional, metropolitan and local strategic water policy and planning frameworks work together. A [draft](https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/water/plans-programs/strategy) of the NSW Water Strategy is open for public consultation from Monday 15 February until Sunday 28 March 2021. [ Murray-Darling Basin Plan (MDBP) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/murray-darling-basin-plan-mdbp) [ Public consultation ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/public-consultation) [ 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) [ Drought ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/drought) [ Safe drinking water ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/safe-drinking-water) [ Regional ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/regional) [ NSW ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/nsw) [ Engagement ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/engagement) [ NSW Water Strategy ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/nsw-water-strategy) [ Service Delivery ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/service-delivery) [ Drinking Water ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/drinking-water) Share [![email icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-email.svg "email icon") ](mailto:?subject=NSW%20charts%20future%20with%2020-year%20water%20strategy&body=Check%20out%20https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/nsw-charts-future-20-year-water-strategy) [![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/community/engagement/nsw-charts-future-20-year-water-strategy) [![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/community/engagement/nsw-charts-future-20-year-water-strategy) [![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/community/engagement/nsw-charts-future-20-year-water-strategy) ## RELATED NEWS ### [ What are the Liberal priorities for the water sector? ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/what-are-the-liberal-priorities-for-the-water-sector) Water Source As South Australia gears up for the 2018 state election, Liberal Shadow Water Minister David Speirs says the state’s water sector… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/what-are-the-liberal-priorities-for-the-water-sector) ### [ NSW Water Strategy charts state's path to the future ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/nsw-water-strategy-charts-states-path-future) Cecilia Harris The New South Wales government has launched the NSW Water Strategy, a 20-year blueprint to help deliver resilient and sustainable… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/nsw-water-strategy-charts-states-path-future) ### [ NSW Govt launches its Natural Resource Access Regulator ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/environment/natural-environment/nsw-govt-launches-its-natural-resource-access-regulator) Water Source In a landmark move to strengthen regulation and compliance issues around water management, the NSW Government will launch the… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/environment/natural-environment/nsw-govt-launches-its-natural-resource-access-regulator) 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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