NSW Government
Water

Bermagui Water Security Project

Exploring sustainable solutions to address Bermagui’s water reliability issues and increase water resilience during drought.

Aerial view of Bermagui

Join us at an upcoming community information session

Community members from across the NSW South Coast are invited to attend a public information session on the Bermagui Water Security Project. There will be 1 online session and 2 local drop-in sessions held on the below dates.
 
Online session:  
Wednesday 26 November 2025, from 6pm – 7.30pm via MS Teams

Register for the webinar
 

Drop-in sessions: 
Come and speak with the team at one of our in-person drop-in sessions on Tuesday 2 December.  Sessions will be held in Bermagui and Cobargo.

  • Tuesday 2 December 2025, drop in anytime from 10.00am – 12.00pm at the  Bermagui Surf Life Saving Club, Lamont Street, Bermagui NSW 2546
  • Tuesday 2 December 2025, drop in anytime from 4.00 – 6.00pm at the Cobargo RSL Memorial Hall, 45 Princes Highway, Cobargo NSW 2550 

Registration for drop-in sessions is not required. 
 

About the project

The Bermagui Water Security Project aims to identify sustainable solutions to ensure a reliable water supply for Bermagui, addressing the town's vulnerability during drought conditions.

The department’s Water Group is investigating options aligned with the South Coast Regional Water Strategy. These options include:

  • adjusting Brogo Dam’s reserve to support water delivery during extreme events
  • modifying weir pool volumes or relocating the town water offtake
  • building a weir at the offtake to ensure adequate water levels for town supply pumps and support WaterNSW's dam release management.

The Water Group is currently preparing a preliminary business case assessing these options.

Project need

Currently, Bermagui faces risks of water shortages during severe droughts, with the potential for high or persistent water restrictions. The town’s water supply relies heavily on rainfall and is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

For Bermagui to continue to grow and thrive into the future, communities and businesses require confidence their water sources are reliable and able to support future demand.

Project benefits

If approved for delivery, the project will benefit the region by:

  • building better town water security for Bermagui
  • providing sustainable water supplies to support Bermagui’s population growth
  • increasing economic development and diversification.

Project funding

The NSW and Australian Governments are jointly funding up to $3 million to develop the preliminary business case, with the Australian Government contributing through the National Water Grid Fund.

Project status

A preliminary business case is an early stage in project development and tests the case for investment. It narrows down options to a shortlist for detailed examination in a full business case.

Stakeholder engagement

The Water Group is committed to building and maintaining respectful, trusted and collaborative relationships with our communities and stakeholders to ensure water infrastructure projects achieve the best possible outcomes.

We will offer opportunities for communities and stakeholders, including First Nations people, to engage with us and provide feedback as we develop the preliminary business case for the project.

If the project proceeds to a full business case, further, extensive engagement with stakeholders will take place to inform its development.

Engaging with local communities, including the Local Aboriginal Land Council, is crucial to developing culturally appropriate and effective water security strategies.

Upcoming engagement opportunities will be highlighted on this webpage and on the Water Group’s stakeholder engagement page.

Fact sheet

A summary of the Bermagui Water Security Project can be found in the project fact sheet.

Download the Bermagui Water Security Project fact sheet (PDF. 515KB)

Timeline

  1. Quarter 3 – 2025

    Introductions and initial studies

    We introduce the project to key stakeholders while completing initial studies and drafting the business case.

  2. Quarter 4 – 2025

    Community consultation on the draft business case

    We introduce the project and the options we’re considering to the community and invite your input.

  3. Quarter 1 – 2026

    Finalising the preliminary business case

    We consider your input to finalise the business case.

  4. Quarter 2 – 2026

    Submission

    We submit the preliminary business case for approval to proceed to a full business case.

Subscribe for updates

Sign-up for updates about the Bermagui Water Security Project.

Subscribe now

Contact us

For more information call us on 1300 081 047 or email us at water.enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au