Message from the Premier

Water is our most precious resource. Not only is it essential for human life, it is needed for our economic prosperity, for business, industry and farmers. It also helps sustain the health of our rivers.

Meeting Sydney's water needs depends on a continuing partnership between the community, industry, businesses, farmers and the Government to use water wisely. Thanks to a tremendous combined effort, we are now using less water than we did three years ago. But we can't be complacent.

In 2005, the NSW Government commissioned independent experts to advise us on how Sydney's water needs could be met into the future, to ensure that Sydney can continue to prosper and grow. Their findings and recommendations were the basis of the Government's Progress Report, released in February 2006, that outlined our new approach to water management for Sydney. Their analysis also underpins the 2006 Metropolitan Water Plan that shows how through a mix of measures we can now be sure that:

we have more than enough water to meet our needs to at least 2015;
we are in a strong position to accommodate population growth beyond 2015; and
for the first time, Sydney can withstand this current drought and any droughts we may encounter in the future.

The Government has established a new Metropolitan Water Independent Review Panel to provide regular advice on how the Plan is progressing and the need to adapt it to new information and changing circumstances. As community input into future water planning is central to the process, the Panel will be a key link between you and the Government.

This Plan gives an overview of the water supply and demand balance and of the actions under way to secure Sydney's water future.

Premier of NSW

Visit the Metropolitan Water Plan page for further information.