Setting priorities for our water services

On the ground meetings important to our consultations

WaterNSW teams are travelling across the state asking our customers and stakeholders to tell us their priorities when it comes to water.

“There’s nothing better than being on the ground and having face-to-face conversations to help us better understand the needs of the community, and our customers,” WaterNSW Manager Stakeholder Engagement, Brendan Maher, said.

“That’s why we’re attending field days and meetings of organisations and associations, as these local and regional events are great opportunities for us to connect with hundreds of stakeholders, have meaningful conversations, and gain valuable insights.

“We gained a great deal of knowledge from our conversations at the Riverina Field Days and NSW Farmers meeting in Griffith in mid-May,” Brendan said.

“In June we presented at the Hunter Valley Water Users Association annual meeting, and then during July and August our 10 Customer Advisory Groups (CAGs) will be meeting.”

Presenting to the Hunter Valley Water Users Association annual meeting on June 13. WaterNSW is available to present to other organisations to better understand your needs.

The Riverina Fields Days at Griffith in May were a great opportunity for WaterNSW representatives to connect with community, customers and stakeholders.

IPART sets water prices for farmers, irrigators, industry and towns

Community Engagement Lead for IPART, Tessa Hockly, said these upcoming events are valuable forums that will feed knowledge and insights into WaterNSW’s pricing proposal to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

“We are asking our customers and stakeholders to tell us which WaterNSW services and business areas they value, to ensure that we respond to the challenges they face when it comes to water,” Tessa said.

“Over the next year, we’ll be speaking with a wide range of our customers and stakeholders – big and small – across NSW. If you'd like to organise for WaterNSW to meet with your group or organisation, please get in touch with us.

“Customers use water in different ways and in different volumes. It’s important to us that everyone can contribute to the discussion about their priorities and outcomes around water delivery.

“But you don’t have to wait to attend a meeting or event to share your views,” Tessa said. “People can get involved in the pricing proposal process at any time by taking the survey on our website.”

Face-to-face meetings, such as the NSW Farmers meeting in Griffith in May, helps us understand the needs of the community and our customers, and get valuable feedback.

Over the coming year, we’ll be speaking with a wide range of our customers and stakeholders – big and small – across NSW, to respond to the challenges they face when it comes to water.

We know people use water in different ways and in different volumes, so we want to hear your priorities and outcomes around water delivery. In addition to consulting with our Customer Advisory Groups, we are keen to hear the views of community and other stakeholders from industry and the environment.

IPART and Customer Advisory Groups

WaterNSW will be submitting its proposal for customer prices for the period 2025-2030 to IPART in September 2024.

IPART helps NSW residents get safe and reliable services at a fair price. They are the independent pricing regulator for water, public transport and local government. IPART sets the maximum prices for farmers, irrigators, industrial users and town water suppliers provided by WaterNSW.

WaterNSW’s Customer Advisory Groups (CAGs) are forums for the business to regularly consult with a cross-section of customers across all 13 regulated valleys and Greater Sydney.

CAGs include customers from the regulated and unregulated streams, groundwater irrigators, stock and domestic water users, major water utilities, local water utilities, local government, environmental water users and Indigenous Australian water users.

We want to hear from you!

As we develop our proposal to The NSW Independent Regulatory and Pricing Tribunal (IPART) for 2025-2030 customer pricing, we are asking our customers and stakeholders to tell us their priorities when it comes to the work we do at WaterNSW.

Have your say

Published date: 15 June 2023

WaterNSW acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands and waters on which we work and pay our respects to all elders past, present and emerging. Learn more

Setting priorities for our water services

On the ground meetings important to our consultations

IPART sets water prices for farmers, irrigators, industry and towns

IPART and Customer Advisory Groups

Related links