Local water utilities newsletters and webinars

Newsletters and webinars

We’re committed to updating local water utilities about our programs and other relevant information.

We publish a monthly newsletter which is distributed to local water utilities. See below for past newsletters.
We hold webinars to better connect local water utilities and the department, share the latest information, answer questions and hear feedback. Watch webinars below.

Subscribe to receive the newsletter and stay up to date with upcoming webinars.

Subscribe to the newsletter

Past newsletters

2025

2024

2023

Newsletters weren’t published in February and March 2023 due to caretaker conventions during the NSW Government election period.

Review of Regulatory and Assurance Framework (RAF) for local water utilities

23 October 2025 - Hear an update on the recent review of how the Regulatory and Assurance Framework (RAF) is being implemented and what we heard from the local water utilities sector.

Watch the video

Previous webinars

2025

25 September 2025: Local Water Utilities reform – Response to PEC report and next steps
- Hear about the NSW Government’s response to the Productivity and Equality Commission’s Review of Funding Models for Local Water Utilities, taking meaningful steps to overhaul the funding framework.
Wednesday 18 June 2025: Strategic Planning Assurance
- Hear about the importance of strategic planning for local water utilities and about the Department’s Strategic Planning Assurance (SPA) assessments.
Thursday 8 May 2025: Regulatory and Assurance Framework (RAF) and Integrated Water Cycle Management Framework (IWCM)
- An overview of the RAF review and how your local water utility or agency can give feedback. Learn more about using IWCM under the RAF and the guidance that can help utilities ensure it is met in their strategic planning.
Thursday 10 April 2025: Alternative Water Sources and Recycled Water Roadmap
- A webinar about resources to help local water utilities talk to their customers about the need for resilient water supplies and alternative sources of water. A webinar about the transition to the OneGMS SmartyGrants platform, which will provide a more efficient and user-friendly experience for all grantees, what LWUs need to know and the support available.

2024

Thursday 21 November 2024: Recycled water - Planning for the future
- A webinar about the future of recycled water in NSW, how local water utilities might help develop water policy and use this water source to supplement the water supply of NSW towns and cities.
Thursday 10 October 2024: Water security - Expectations and approach for town water supplies
- A webinar on water security and the department’s expectations and approach for effective strategic planning under the Regulatory and Assurance Framework (RAF). A webinar to further the sector’s capacity and understanding of the RAF for local water utilities and the department’s Regional Water Strategies.
16 September 2024: We want to hear from you
- A webinar dedicated to responding to questions received from local water utilities, beginning with a brief news update and then hand over to a panel of Local Water Utilities branch managers and experts from our Grants Management Office and Regional Water Strategies teams to respond to questions and comments from webinar attendees.
8 August 2024: Managing dams safety risks for local water utilities
- Watch our webinar with the team from Dams Safety NSW on managing dam safety risks, including the regulatory requirements for risk management, and how these can be used to prioritise work on your declared dam.
3 July 2024: Skills and training support for the water industry
- Watch our webinar on the work that is in progress to support and advocate for the water industry, including addressing skills shortages in the sector, improving access to skills and training and attracting new people to jobs in the NSW water industry.
6 June 2024: Liquid trade waste regulation in regional NSW
- Learn more about liquid trade waste regulation under the Regulatory and Assurance Framework (RAF) and Liquid Trade Waste Management Guidelines 2021. This webinar gives an overview of trade waste regulation, including the definition and scope of liquid trade waste, how this fits within the RAF and roles and responsibilities in trade waste management across regional NSW.
9 May 2024: Blue-green algae water quality issues in local water utilities
- Learn more about blue-green algae water quality issues at local water utilities. This webinar covers the strategic and operational considerations when seeking to understand and manage water quality. It also provides an overview of water quality expectation under the Regulatory and Assurance Framework.
- Read the Blue-green algae webinar response to questions (%asset_summary_613719%)
4 April 2024: Strategic Planning for LWUs and the department’s assurance function under the Regulatory and Assurance Framework (RAF)
- Learn more about the department’s high-level and detailed expectations for effective LWUs strategic planning, as outlined in the RAF, and the process and benefits of using the department’s assurance function to assess the effectiveness of a LWUs strategic planning.
14 March 2024: Works approvals – Section 60 and Section 292
- Learn more about works approvals for water treatment plants and sewerage works under the Regulatory and Assurance Framework, Section 60, of the Local Government Act, and Section 292 (1)(a) of the Water Management Act.
- Read the works approvals webinar response to questions (%asset_summary_611733%)