MP BROWNED OFF OVER NEGLECTED WATER QUALITY ACROSS ELECTORATE
Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan has called for urgent State and Federal government intervention needed to fix failing regional water infrastructure and deliver household water security for residents across the electorate.
Addressing parliament on Wednesday, the MP called for immediate and substantial investment from the State and Federal Governments to ensure communities including Glen Innes, Uralla, Warialda and Guyra have year-round access to clean water.
“An urgent and formidable challenge for my electorate is the poor quality of the drinking water in a number of towns and villages across this region, and without urgent investment and updating of infrastructure it will continue to deteriorate,” the MP said.
“Communities and councils are being left with ageing infrastructure for which there is no way possible they can afford to update without substantial financial assistance.”
Mr Moylan said residents across his electorate are being forced to tolerate water quality issues that would be unacceptable anywhere else in New South Wales.
In his address to State Parliament, he said water in Glen Innes has repeatedly turned brown due to sediment shedding from a century old pipe network laid close to the surface.
“The discolouration worsens in summer as the pipes heat up, leaving households with stained clothing, damaged sinks and bathtubs, and a standard of living simply not good enough in 2026,” he said.
“The cost of replacing the network is incredibly expensive and the NSW Government should not leave such a burden to the local councils alone.
“Guyra faces similar problems with an ageing pipe network and limited water security, further south in Uralla, residents continue to experience discoloured water with many resorting to bottled water.”
“Gwydir Shire also faces recurring water quality issues and confronted PFAS contamination in late 2024, forcing emergency bottled‑water distribution and reliance on temporary bores.”
Mr Moylan said the situation reflects decades of neglect from both Canberra and Macquarie Street, leaving regional communities with water infrastructure that desperately needs updating.
“Clean drinking water should not be a luxury for rural and regional residents in 2026,” Mr Moylan said.
“The Northern Tablelands contributes significantly to the NSW economy, yet our communities are left hoping our water stays clear in summer.
“Unless Canberra and Macquarie Street pull their socks up and help, it will be beyond the ability of our councils to fix.
“We need help to ensure we have the clear, safe and reliable drinking water we deserve.”
