Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has challenged the NSW Premier Chris Minns to show that he governs for the entire State and to do what is needed to improve Narrandera’s water supply.
Ms Cooke said that while the Premier should alleviate water security issues in the regions generally, more specifically he should do so in what he has already tagged as the “insta-worthy township of Narrandera”.
“Communities throughout regional NSW deserve nothing less,” she said.
“While the Premier’s brief tour of Narrandera, and subsequent social media posts, were a welcome contribution to the area’s marketing campaign, there were a number of places in town that didn’t quite make his tourist highlight reel,” Ms Cooke said.
“So I intend to write to Mr Minns, to reinforce the urgency and importance of these not-so-instagram worthy’ issues in the town.
“This includes Narrandera’s water infrastructure, the police station and housing, the nurses’ quarters, Canal Bridge and the town’s stormwater drainage system.”
Ms Cooke raised the important issue of Narrandera’s water supply in a private members statement on water security in regional NSW last week.
“Water is the absolute lifeblood of rural and regional towns. Our livelihoods depend on it, and in many towns and villages, the supply of reliable drinking water can be an ongoing challenge,” she said.
“Addressing the problems around water security in regional NSW is not at the top of this Government’s to-do list,” she said.
“The NSW Premier was spot-on when he said that all residents in NSW have a right to a safe and reliable supply of clean water; I cannot agree more. However, I fear he and his Government do not quite grasp the seriousness of the situation facing regional NSW when it comes to clean water access and security.”
To illustrate the additional challenges associated with water supply issues outside metropolitan areas, she highlighted the plight facing residents in Narrandera.
“Narrandera is home to close to 6,000 people. It is a beautiful country town; the Premier was so impressed by a photograph of the mural on the town’s water tower that he shared the image with his 20,000‑odd Instagram followers.
“But in the interests of accuracy, the Premier might want to correct his post that mistakenly identifies the water infrastructure as an old silo. It may seem trivial to nit-pick about a social media post, but it goes to the lack of awareness the Premier seems to have when it comes to the crucial issue of water in our regions.
“That Insta-worthy water tower with its spectacular mural masks an ongoing issue for the town. While you can always rely on a friendly welcome and great coffee when you visit Narrandera, sadly residents cannot always rely on the supply of clean water.
“Whilst the water meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, due to aging infrastructure the town supply cannot always be counted upon to deliver water that is in keeping with the community’s expectations.
“Many residents have contacted me with their concerns, including one local mum who told me ‘some days the water is so discoloured and smells so awful that you would never dream of drinking it’, and that they have ‘often had to resort to buying bottled water, especially for the kids,” Ms Cooke said.
“Other residents tell me stories of being forced to throw out clothes because the water they are washed in ruins the fabric, while others have complained about experiencing skin rashes after bathing.”
Ms Cooke said she was in regular contact with Narrandera Shire Council, which was doing what it can to alleviate the situation, including the supply of domestic filtration systems for residents who needed them.
“But that is essentially a band-aid solution; the bigger problem is not going away. So I invite the Premier to visit Narrandera as soon as possible, and in addition to promoting local tourism through his social media accounts, take the time to sit down with the local council and residents to hear firsthand the water issues they are facing.
“But of course this problem will not be fixed just by talking about it. I call on the Premier to commit to funding the critical water infrastructure that Narrandera needs – including a new filtration system and pipeline network – to ensure that its water is fit for purpose and capable of sustaining this thriving community now and into the future.”
Ms Cooke said with the Labor Government’s first budget just weeks away, she reminded the Premier of the importance of initiatives like the Safe and Secure Water Program and called on him to increase the Government’s investment in this space.
“It is now time for the Premier to show that he governs for the entire State and to do what is needed to alleviate water security issues in the regions generally, and more specifically, in the Insta-worthy township of Narrandera.
“Communities throughout regional NSW deserve nothing less.”
This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 10 August 2023.
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