# NSW local government water management conference

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/nsw-local-government-water-management-conference
> Updated: 2026-09-05T22:00:00.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 3.

Local Government NSW (LGNSW) organized the 2026 Water Management Conference in Ballina from September 2–4. The event, themed ‘Local Water, Shared Responsibility’, focused on water security for rural, regional, and remote communities across New South Wales.

Discussions centered on the challenges of maintaining reliable, safe, and affordable water and sewer services for the nearly two million people served by council-owned utilities. Key topics included aging infrastructure, climate extremes, population growth, water quality, sustainable funding, and emerging technologies. NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson was a scheduled keynote speaker.

Following the conference, LGNSW and the NSW Water Directorate launched a six-point Regional Water Action Plan to strengthen water security and renew aging infrastructure. The initiative responds to significant funding gaps; the NSW Auditor-General noted that approximately $1 billion is required to keep existing infrastructure operational, while broader sector estimates suggest total priority investment needs could reach $5 billion.

LGNSW President Darcy Byrne emphasized that access to safe and reliable water is a “basic human right” that underpins public health, agriculture, and the economy, noting that many councils struggle to maintain aging systems without long-term funding certainty. Ballina Shire Council Mayor Sharon Cadwallader added that achieving security requires infrastructure, sensible regulation, a skilled workforce, and improved collaboration.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-05: Regional NSW launches water security action plan

Local Government NSW and the NSW Water Directorate launched an action plan to address urgent water security and aging infrastructure needs in regional NSW, citing investment requirements up to $5 billion.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/regional-nsw-launches-water-security-action-plan

### 2026-08-31: NSW local government conference addresses rural water security

The 2026 Water Management Conference in Ballina addresses water security, infrastructure, and climate resilience for rural and regional New South Wales communities.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nsw-local-government-conference-addresses-rural-water-security

### 2026-08-25: Local Government NSW announces 2026 Water Management Conference

Local Government NSW will host the 2026 Water Management Conference in Ballina to address water security, aging infrastructure, and climate resilience for regional communities.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/local-government-nsw-announces-2026-water-management-conference

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Cite as: NSW local government water management conference. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/nsw-local-government-water-management-conference