NSW towns risk "running out of water within months"

By Leith van Onselen

After The Guardian last week reported that NSW towns, including Dubbo and Tamworth, are facing a water emergency within months, The ABC has now joined the chorus:

With towns across New South Wales at risk of running out of water within months, there are renewed calls for an urgent upgrade of water storage infrastructure.

With dam levels at near-record lows, water restrictions are now in force across many regional areas…

“We have one of the most unprecedented droughts in the state’s history and this water supply issue is hitting both urban and regional areas hard,” said Linda Scott, president of Local Government NSW.

“There are record low inflows and people are crying out for help,” she said. “Councils need more help from State and Federal Government to secure water supplies”…

Ashish Sharma, Professor in Civil Engineering at the University of NSW [said]… there was a need to start the dialogue about what could be viable and productive options to pursue in Australia.

“There are engineering solutions like the Snowy Hydro Scheme, turning rivers inland or north-south pipelines.

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About the author

Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.

NSW towns risk “running out of water within months”