Will we have enough water for a population of 500,000 in 2036?

What about water?

That’s one of the questions that seems to be below the radar during discussion about how to manage the approaching population boom in the Macarthur region.

Most estimates suggest a population of around 500,000 people calling our region home by 2036.

In pre-planning for this huge increase, health and transport infrastructure improvements, including roads, have been flagged.

Not so water supply and water security infrastructure.

With little rainfall during the past few months local dams such as Cataract and Cordeuax are currently a little over half full – 53.9 percent and 56.9 percent respectively.

After hosting opposition water spokesman Chris Minns to discuss the need for long term water security for the Macarthur region, local MP Greg Warren has suggested water infrastructure be added to the planning for the massive increase in population.

The State Member for Campbelltown says that while draft development plans contain information in relation to the provision of various other infrastructure, they often overlook water.

“Water is our most crucial and essential natural resource,’’ says Mr Warren.

[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“While it’s easy to take access to safe drinking water for granted, without adequate planning this may not always be the case.[/social_quote]

“It’s scary to think if they can’t get a train timetable right, how can we trust them to make sure that all residents in our area have sufficient access to water – an issue in the planning process that can be easily overlooked.

“This issue adds to the Berejiklian Governments mounting failure to build the infrastructure, hospital and school upgrades and services to accommodate the forecasted increase in population under their own regional development plan,’’ Mr Warren said.

“Considering the massive population growth our region will be experiencing over the next 20 years we need to get this right.

“It is not acceptable that local residents be left without the most basic services.”

Mr Warren and Mr Minns have called on the Berejiklian Government to go public with any plans to provide water infrastructure in growth areas such as Macarthur.

They will write to the Minister for Water demanding that the plans be released.

 “This government has a long history of pushing massive housing developments at all costs without considering the consequences,’’ Mr Minns said.

“It would not surprise me at all if the Premier decided to push ahead with a massive housing development proposal without considering how we are going to get water and sewerage into their homes.

“The government should release an infrastructure plan for all housing developments in Western Sydney including detailed plans for water, roads and public transport.’’