At its November Ordinary Meeting, Council emphasised its strong opposition to the privatisation of Local Water Utilities (LWU), following an inquiry led by the NSW Joint Select Committee. Council supports legal protections being introduced against privatisation, just as the NSW Government has done for Sydney and the Hunter Valley in the past.
Mayor Cr Tony Reneker, highlighting the importance of safeguarding the future of LWUs across regional NSW, said, “We consider our water supply and sewerage services to be our most significant contribution to public health and undertake them with care and diligence.”
“Our regional water assets need to be protected. Council does not support the privatisation of LWUs in the regions or the sell-off of assets, nor does it support forced council or LWU amalgamations,” he said.
Local communities (via their Council or alliance of councils) should retain ownership, involvement and control over local water and sewerage services. In the past, communities have lost control of electricity supplies and Council does not support this potentially happening to our water supply and sewer services too.
“Residents of NSW and Leeton Shire specifically deserve safe, reliable and affordable water and sewerage services. Smaller communities deserve equitable access to these critical and essential services too. In our Local Government Area, Leeton Shire Council is best positioned to deliver these services,” concluded Mayor Reneker.
