Across regional NSW, around 1.9 million people, living in around 500 urban communities depend on safe, secure, affordable and sustainable drinking water and sewerage services.
Access to safe and secure water supply and sewerage services is fundamental to the health, well-being and economic growth of regional communities.
About CTWSSP
Since 1994, the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program (CTWSSP) provided assistance to local water utilities (LWUs) that provide public water supply and sewerage services to urban areas of regional NSW.
The key functions of the CTWSSP were to:
- promote adoption of best practice management by regional LWUs through leadership, guidance, training and expert advice
- provide financial assistance towards the capital costs of water supply and sewerage infrastructure works to bring them up to prevailing standards
Between 1994 and 2018 the CTWSSP has helped LWUs provide appropriate, affordable, cost-effective, and well-managed water supply and sewerage services to meet community needs, protect public health and achieve sustainable environmental outcomes.
A report by the NSW Audit Office in 2015 noted that the CTWSSP “has effectively promoted adoption of better management practices by local water utilities, but will not achieve its objective of eliminating the water supply and sewerage infrastructure backlog in urban areas of country New South Wales.”
As the CTWSSP is coming to a close, and in recognition of the ongoing need faced by LWUs in regional areas, the NSW Government announced the commencement of the applicant led Safe and Secure Water Program in 2017.
CTWSSP Achievements
- Over $1.27 billion of funding committed by NSW Government since 1994
- 520 water supply and sewerage projects completed worth more than $3.6 billion
- Provision of improved water and sewerage services to regional NSW residents
- Improved performance of LWUs including:
- Overall implementation of the best practice management framework increased from 46% in 2004-05 to 92% in 2015-16
- 100% compliance with microbiological requirements in 2015-16, up from 50% in 2000.
Completed projects
Projects which were funded under the CTWSSP can be viewed in the interactive map below.
