National Water Week was held during October, and this year's very relevant theme of "Bring Water Into Focus" was high on the agenda at a roundtable discussion on water security held in Narromine on Tuesday, October 21.

The Alliance of Western Councils brought together key water authorities and regional leaders at the Narromine Aero Club to discuss water security for critical human needs.

Senior representatives attended including Andrew McConville (Chief Executive, Murray-Darling Basin Authority), Sean Sullivan (Deputy Secretary, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water), Simon Banks (Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder), and representatives from the NSW Water Directorate.

Alliance Chair and Bogan Shire Council Mayor, Cr Glen Neill, said the event focused on the urgent need for secure and sustainable regional water supplies.

“Despite years of planning and the lessons from the worst drought in 130 years, water security for regional towns remains unfinished business,” Cr Neill said.

“This roundtable was about turning lived experience into action,” he added.

Mayor Ewen Jones represented Narromine Shire Council at the roundtable.

Issues raised for the local area included the timely development of the new water treatment plant for Narromine (and working through the various approvals required to develop a town treatment plant), and the availability of locally-supplied training for water and sewer employees.

Not-for-profit organisation Rural Aid has used National Water Week to urge Australians to help farming families who are living without safe, reliable household water. During August, Rural Aid made 60 household water tanks available to farming families across every state and territory, with every single tank claimed within minutes.

A recent survey of Rural Aid’s registered farmers found that 77 per cent of respondents rated their need for a domestic water tank as either high or medium. Of those who have received a Rural Aid tank, 97 per cent reported an improvement in their wellbeing.