PIAC broadly supported the Draft Greater Sydney Water Strategy and the vital role it should have improving long-term, sustainable water planning and risk management for the community.
PIAC highlighted a number of structural and process differences between the Greater Sydney Water Strategy and the Lower Hunter Water Security Plan. We recommended the Greater Sydney Strategy address issues of transparent process and community engagement and include more concrete implementation actions with specified timeframes.
The Draft Strategy demonstrated an important attempt to recognise and respond to the risks of a changing climate, and more effectively link policy and regulation with long-term water planning. The Draft Strategy noted community support for conservation and recycling and made important steps to recognise the role recycling will play in the future water supply of the City. The options for progressing recycling were not sufficiently developed and PIAC highlighted key aspects of the Draft Strategy which must be addressed to ensure it delivers its stated intent.
