Mayor's Column: Advocating for our needs
Published on 26 March 2025
We have recently celebrated major milestones in the large capital works program to improve our water network.
I was excited to turn the first sod on the $8 million Willawarrin Water Treatment Plant, which will improve the quality and security of the water. As a resident of Willawarrin, I know from experience how unreliable the current bore water supply is and what this plant will mean to locals. The NSW Government has invested $2 million into this critical infrastructure.
A new state of the art filtration plant to treat raw water from the Steuart McIntyre Dam and Sherwood Borefield has also been funded. The $52.9 million project will improve water security, reliability and services for thousands of households. The project is being made possible by combining $12.5 million from the Australian Government’s National Water Grid Fund, $13.2 million from the NSW Government’s Safe and Secure Water Program and $27.1 million from Council.
Securing funding has been a priority over many terms of Council. In November 2023, when we faced difficult decisions about our financial sustainability and the impact of rate rises, Council resolved to continue advocating to the state and federal governments for increased funding for the local government sector.
Council then made submissions to both the NSW and Commonwealth Inquiries on financial viability of local government as part of this advocacy. This is a continuous journey for all councils to address the systemic issues across the sector.
I’m looking forward to joining Mayors from around NSW at the March Country Mayors Association meeting where financial sustainability is the focus topic. We will hear presentations from the Chair of the NSW Government inquiry into the ability of local governments to fund infrastructure and services, a senior analyst from TCorp and the Chair of IPART.
It's an important part of my role as Mayor to take the opportunity to be in these critical conversations and continue representing the needs of our community to the other levels of government.
Thank you,
Mayor Kinne Ring.