Clean water to flow for Narrandera: Coalition commits $16 million to new water treatment plant
Senator The Hon Matt Canavan
Leader of The Nationals
Shadow Minister for Trade, Investment & Tourism
Senator for Queensland
The Hon Michael McCormack MP
Shadow Minister for Water
Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Federal Member for Riverina
Senator Maria Kovacic
Shadow Assistant Minister for Women, Shadow Assistant Minister for Productivity and Deregulation
Senator for New South Wales
Steph Cooke MP
Nsw Shadow Minister for Water
Nsw Shadow Minister for Crown Lands
State Member for Cootamundra
Clean water will return to Narrandera under a new commitment made by The Nationals’ candidate for Farrer, Brad Robertson, and Liberal candidate, Raissa Butkowski.
We will invest $16 million towards the construction of a new water treatment plant to provide a permanent solution to unacceptable water quality outcomes.
The Nationals’ candidate for Farrer Brad Robertson said this commitment delivers on the concerns raised by the local community over poor water quality that is significantly impacting their health and daily lives.
“Yellow groundwater filled with iron and manganese would never be acceptable in the city and neither should it be for the local communities of Farrer,” Mr Robertson said.
“I’ve heard the clear concerns over water taste, smell and clarity and that is why I’m committed to delivering a lasting investment that will provide clean water for Narrandera.”
Liberal candidate for Farrer Raissa Butkowski said residents of Narrandera should not have to question whether their water is safe to drink.
“I’m committed to delivering a new water treatment plant for Narrandera to ensure residents have permanent access to safe and clean water,” Ms Butkowski said.
“This commitment for a new water treatment plant will deliver the standard of essential service residents and local businesses need and deserve.”
Leader of The Nationals Senator Matt Canavan said it was completely unacceptable that despite $13 billion dollars being spent on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, Narrandera had been left with undrinkable water.
“Since the Albanese Labor Government was elected, they’ve restarted water buybacks with support from the Greens and Teal Independents, while local basin communities like Narrandera have been left to languish,” Senator Canavan said.
“The Nationals will always fight to deliver the investment in essential infrastructure needed to protect the lifestyle of regional communities.”
Shadow Minister for Water Michael McCormack said the Coalition would work with the state and local governments to ensure the new water treatment plant is fast-tracked and delivered as a priority.
“While Labor spends taxpayer dollars on studies, residents of Narrandera don't need another piece of paper to tell them they need clean, safe and reliable drinking water,” Mr McCormack said.
“This is a basic service that regional Australians should be able to rely on, and that is why we will deliver a new water treatment plant to ensure that standard is being met for Narrandera.”
Shadow Assistant Minister for Women, Shadow Assistant Minister for Productivity and Deregulation Senator Maria Kovacic said Narrandera has waited long enough for clean drinking water.
“This community shouldn’t have to question whether their water is safe to drink. No community should. This is clearly a public health crisis, and we don’t need any more studies to tell us that.” Senator Kovacic said.
“Only the Coalition has a strong track record of delivering projects like this for regional communities.”
NSW Shadow Minister for Water and State Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said that local voices have been falling on deaf ears for too long.
“This community lodges hundreds of complaints every single year about the poor quality of their water, yet the best the federal and state Labor governments have delivered is a business case,” Ms Cooke said.
“Narrandera locals don’t need more reports or business cases telling them what they already know. They need a new water treatment plant, and that’s exactly what this commitment delivers.”
Narrandera Shire Council Mayor Neville Kschenka OAM said in recent years now, clean potable water has been the number one priority for Narrandera residents and that Narrandera was one of the few towns that does not have a water treatment plant.
“The infrastructure has deteriorated far more in recent years due to the use of bore water over a long period of time and a water filtration plant is now urgently required,” Mayor Kschenka said.
“Although Council will share the cost, a project of this size is way beyond what our residents can afford and it is essential that Government funding is allocated now so that Narrandera can progress, attract industry, and continue to contribute to Australia's economy.”
The Coalition’s $16 million commitment is expected to be delivered in partnership with funding from state and local governments.This will ensure safe drinking water for locals and avoid delays through sequential funding processes.
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