Remade Hunter Water Regulation commences
The Regulation that supports Hunter Water to provide critical water and wastewater services to more than 630,000 people across the region has commenced after going on public display earlier this year.
It received community support, and we thank locals and stakeholders for their valuable feedback during the exhibition period. What we heard helped us finalise the Regulation, and a report detailing public submissions can be found on our website.
The final Regulation includes minor changes and updates to streamline it and clarify its intent.
The changes include clarifying definitions, updating references, increasing penalties for breaching water restrictions to bring them in-line with other similar fines, and updating language to reflect online administration.
Based on our Regulatory Impact Statement, we do not expect the changes to have major impacts on residents, businesses or other stakeholders, and they do not affect water rates or charges.
The Regulation plays a key role in enabling Hunter Water to deliver drinking water, sewerage, recycled water, drainage and stormwater services across more than 6,600 square kilometres in the Lower Hunter, including the local government areas of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Cessnock, Port Stephens, Dungog and parts of Singleton.
It enables Hunter Water to protect water quality in drinking water catchment areas, protect Hunter Water assets, implement water restrictions during drought, and fine people or corporations when they don't comply with rules relating to Special Areas, plumbing and drainage works and water restrictions.
For more information and to read the What We Heard report, visit: Hunter Water Regulation remake.
NSW Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said:
"The people of the Hunter can have confidence that their water is clean and safe thanks to these changes.
"We're cracking down on those who pollute our water - sending a clear message that reckless or negligent behaviour won't be tolerated.
"We extended our gratitude to the community for their patience and invaluable feedback - your support means we can protect and serve the community as best we can.
"We are committed to making sure our water stays in top shape because the people of the Hunter deserve nothing less."
NSW DCCEEW Executive Director of Operations Resilience, Ashraf El-Sherbini, said:
"We thank residents and stakeholders across the Hunter for engaging with us and providing us with important feedback which helped shape the final Regulation.
"We were pleased to see that the community supported the remake, and the changes we made were in-line with best practice and community expectations.
"As NSW's second-largest water utility, Hunter Water services one in 13 people in our state.
"Now it can get on with the job of delivering world-class services to hundreds of thousands of households and businesses across the Hunter, while safeguarding water quality and protecting the region's waterways and the environment."
