Let’s Talk About Water | ZNET Plus project

Working together towards water security

A ZNET Plus initiative

Engagement think tank

UPDATE

In response the current COVID status in NSW, we have postponed the Let's Talk About Water think tank scheduled for Wednesday 30 June. We have erred on the side of caution because of the senior ages of several of the registered participants.
We will widely promote the new date once it is confirmed. Thank you for everyone who has expressed an interest in participating.
The think tank, which was scheduled to be held at the Uralla Bowling Club, will step up Uralla residents’ input to our Let’s Talk About Water initiative.
The workshop will give residents the chance to help plan the final phase of community engagement for the project.
ZNET has conducted considerable community engagement for Let’s Talk About Water during 2020 and 2021, including focus groups, resident and business interviews, a community survey and town hall meeting.
While all that input is being collated by ZNET members and University of NSW academics assisting with consultation for the project, the public think tank will help identify how that feedback is shared with the community and further contributions are encouraged.
It's celebrating the considerable and highly valuable input received so far, while opening the doors for fresh ideas and skills for the concluding days of consultation.In addition, this opportunity for wider public input is checking that we're still using the best methods to get information out to the community and to enable their input in return.

Focus groups

We held a series of well attended focus groups for 'Let's Talk About Water' on 13 - 15 May:
Evening Rural Focus Group
Town Focus Groups
Kentucky Landholders Focus Group

Thank you to everyone who contributed to these valuable conversations.

ZNET partnered with the Neighbourhood Centre to run a great community workshop for Uralla youth and parents during Youth Week on 22 April.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Uralla Business Breakfast on 24 February and the storytime on 24 March.

Visit the community activities page to see what else is happening.

Complete the online community survey

Resources

#1: Uralla is talking about water!

View or download flyer

Take the poll: How did the lack of water affect you?

#2: Where does our water come from and go to?

View or download flyer

Take the poll: What do you know about our water supply, and what else would you like to know?

#3: Community engagement

View or download flyer

Visit the community activities page for more information and a schedule of events.

Take the poll: How do you prefer to be consulted on water security?

#4: Water efficiency

How much can we save from improved water efficiency?

View or download flyer #4 Water Efficiency

Take our quick survey about water efficiency

#5: Water recycling

How useful is water recycling?

View or download flyer #5 Water Recycling

Take our quick survey on water recycling

#6: Rainwater tanks

Do rainwater tanks help with water security?

View or download flyer #6 Rainwater tanks

Take our quick survey about rainwater tanks

#7: Bores

Can we just put down bores to supplement supplies in dry times?

View or download flyer #7 Bores

Take our poll: How do you feel about bores to supplement town supplies?

Introduction

In 2019/2020, the Uralla community experienced a water emergency. Much lower than average rainfall reduced the town water supply to just 100 days’ use, with the main storage dam falling below 25% of capacity.

Added to that was the complication of elevated arsenic levels in the remaining supply. While suitable for showering, washing and the like, the water was not safe for drinking or cooking.

From December 2019 to April 2020, bottled water was brought in and distributed by volunteers with the support of Council.

From this water crisis emerged discussions between farmers and rural landholders, shopkeepers, business owners, town-dwellers and the Council. ZNET Plus took a proactive role in bringing the community together to facilitate conversations with a view to creating a long-term collective plan for water sustainability.

Let's Talk About Water

In July 2020, ZNET Plus gained a $30,000 grant from the NSW Government’s Increasing Resilience to Climate Change Community Fund to further research and consultation with the Uralla community on water security.

The Let’s Talk About Water project seeks to undertake an informed, structured and broad community consultation to gauge community values for different approaches to secure water supplies, including recycled water.

The goal of the project is to deliver:

a deeper community understating of the water cycle and options for securing water supply
a feeling of empowerment that the community can act to improve water security
for our Council to take the best pathway to water security

Project Outcome

The project will produce a Water Consultation Blueprint for Uralla Shire which will allow Uralla Shire Council to explore technical options for water security with an understanding of community values.

Project Partners

UNSW Global Water Institute
Uralla Shire Council
ZNET Plus

Funding

Funded by the NSW Government

Upcoming Events

A series of focus groups, workshops and educational activities are planned over the next 12 – 18 months as part of the Let’s Talk About Water project. Visit the community activities page and contact our Water Project Officer to register your interest.