Working together towards water security
A ZNET Plus initiative
Resources
#1: Uralla is talking about water!
#2: Where does our water come from and go to?
#3: Community engagement
Visit the community activities page for more information and a schedule of events.
Introduction
In 2019/2020 the Uralla community experienced a water emergency. Much lower than average rainfall had reduced the town water supply to just 100 days’ use, with the main storage dam falling below 25% 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 were successful in gaining 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, and
- 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.
Contact
- Heidi McElnea, Water Project Officer
- water(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)zneturalla.org.au
- 0474297790
Click to sign up to the water newsletter. You’ll be given the option to register your interest in attending an activity, too.
Media
Uralla community to be consulted on water conservation (NBN News 8 October 2020)
Council and ZNET Plus talk about water (Uralla Shire Council, 4 September 2020)
Z-NET Uralla partner with Global Water Institute and Uralla Shire Council to deliver the Blueprint for Water (Armidale Express, 22 July 2020)
Addressing water security through community consultation in Uralla (UNSW Global Water Institute, 29 June 2020)
