Final strategy
Public consultation 1
The first draft Far North Coast Regional Water Strategy, which considers water supply, reliability and security for a growing population, was on public exhibition from 30 October – 13 December 2020.
The draft strategy was a set of 3 documents:
| Date | Document name |
|---|---|
| 01 September 2020 | Regional water strategies guide (PDF, 3.99 MB) |
| 01 October 2020 | Draft Far North Coast Regional Water Strategy (PDF, 21.39 MB) |
| 01 October 2020 | Draft Far North Coast Regional Water Strategy: Long list of options (PDF, 9.53 MB) |
A comprehensive engagement and consultation program accompanied the release of the draft strategy. This included:
- face-to-face meetings
- webinars
- formal submissions.
What we heard
More than 70 stakeholders participated in the engagement program and 245 formal submissions were received. Key themes that emerged during this consultation include Aboriginal knowledge and connection to Country, water infrastructure, water security, flooding and flood mitigation, and groundwater.
| Date | Document name |
|---|---|
| 01 December 2021 | Far North Coast Region Draft Regional Water Strategy: What we heard report (PDF, 2.56 MB) |
| 01 December 2021 | Far North Coast Region Draft Regional Water Strategy: What we heard summary (PDF, 177.39 KB) |
Submissions
Permission was received to publish several of the submissions. These are available via the Water Publications Library.
CSIRO review
To better understand the unique and complex water challenges of the Far North Coast region, the department engaged the CSIRO to provide advice and an independent review of the Far North Coast Regional Water Strategy. The CSIRO completed its review in February 2022. The review and the department’s response to CSIRO’s recommendations were published in June 2022.
CSIRO review documents:
| Date | Document name |
|---|---|
| 01 June 2022 | Far North Coast Regional Water Strategy: Progress report (PDF, 1.25 MB) |
| 14 February 2022 | CSIRO Review of the New South Wales Far North Coast Draft Regional Water Strategy Review (PDF, 1.25 MB) |
| 01 June 2022 | Department’s response to CSIRO review recommendations (PDF, 490.62 KB) |
Public consultation 2
After incorporating the feedback from the community and doing further analysis, a second draft Far North Coast Regional Water Strategy was on public exhibition from 1 November to 11 December 2022. The second draft was a set of two documents:
| Date | Document name |
|---|---|
| 01 November 2022 | Far North Coast Draft Regional Water Strategy: Shortlisted actions – Executive summary (PDF, 4.97 MB) |
| 01 November 2022 | Far North Coast Draft Regional Water Strategy: Consultation paper (PDF, 19.02 MB) |
Additional information
| Date | Document name |
|---|---|
| 01 November 2022 | Far North Coast Regional Water Strategy: Detailed economic and ecological analysis (PDF, 2.7 MB) |
| 01 November 2022 | Far North Coast Regional Water Strategy: Economic base case (PDF, 1.84 MB) |
| 01 January 2023 | Far North Coast Regional Water Strategy: Options modelling – Richmond (PDF, 3.2 MB) |
| 01 January 2023 | Far North Coast Regional Water Strategy: Options modelling – Tweed (PDF, 1.32 MB) |
What we heard
In the second round of the public exhibition of Far North Coast Regional Water Strategy, 68 stakeholders participated, and we received 176 formal submissions. Feedback ranged from general commentary about water-related issues such as water security and the need to explore water efficiency measures and alternative water supplies — to specific feedback about proposed shortlisted actions.
| Date | Document name |
|---|---|
| 01 June 2023 | Far North Coast Draft Regional Water Strategy: Public Consultation 2 – What we heard report (PDF, 13.85 MB) |
Submissions
Permission was received to publish several of the submissions. These are available via the Water Publications Library.