On 6 March 2015, the NSW Government announced $110 million in Restart NSW funding for infrastructure projects, to go towards clearing a backlog of projects in regional towns affected by ongoing water quality and sewerage problems. These projects were originally identified under the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program (CTWSSP) but were unable to be funded under that program.
The Backlog Program is part of the $325 million Water Security for Regions reservation in the 2014-15 State budget. The Backlog Program is assisting the NSW Government to meet its targets for access to and quality of potable water through new infrastructure builds and infrastructure upgrades.
The administration of funding for the Backlog Program is managed by Infrastructure NSW with the department providing technical advice.
Following on from the Backlog Program, and in recognition of the need faced by Local Water Utilities in regional areas, the NSW Government launched the Safe and Secure Water Program in 2017.
Approved projects
The 37 projects which secured funding under the Backlog Program can be viewed in the interactive map below.