A NSW Liberal/Nationals Government will establish a $120 million Stormwater Harvesting Community Trust to deliver infrastructure projects that harvest stormwater across NSW, NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam and Shadow Minister for Water Utilities Andrew Stoner announced today. 

"Under Labor, 97 per cent of the water that falls in Sydney flows out to sea. In Melbourne they recycle more than 10 per cent of their water and in Adelaide it's closer to 20 per cent," Mr Debnam said.

"This needs to change. It was highlighted again in Sydney last night with a storm that dumped up to 50mm in parts of the city, with the vast majority of that water flowing out to sea," he said.

"We need to get serious about stormwater harvesting and work more closely with the community, industry and local government to identify, and commence new and innovative local stormwater harvesting solutions – it's just plain common sense.

"The Stormwater Harvesting Community Trust will be overseen by a Community Board and will have its own legislation. The Trust will be in addition to current programs.

"Applications will be sought from industry, local government and the community for innovative projects that harvest stormwater and take pressure off our precious drinking water supplies.

"Projects to be funded from the Community Trust will include:

• installation of large industrial and commercial water tanks;

• enhancing the capacity of small dams and weirs to catch stormwater runoff;

• creation of subterranean tanks for irrigation of public spaces and recreation reserves; and,

• use of public structures such as bridges and roadways for stormwater harvesting.

"While matching funding will not be a condition of support, priority will be given to projects that involve a funding contribution from proponents, particularly in industry.

"Our $120 million Stormwater Harvesting Community Trust is part of our overall strategy to secure the long-term water needs of NSW and is in addition to current government funding.

"The cost of the Fund will be met by savings from not proceeding with Labor’s expensive and environmentally damaging $1.9 billion desalination plant at Kurnell.

"For twelve years Labor have failed to plan and act on water.

Mr Stoner said there is no silver bullet solution, we have to tackle the water crisis region by region, town by town and house by house. You need to know what your options are and have clear priorities.

"Our priorities have always been for recycling and stormwater harvesting. Key announcements to date on water have included:

• A 'New Water' Network to use recycled water from the South West and North West of Sydney to boost drinking water supplies when dam levels fall below 20% that will produce almost twice the water at half the cost of Labor’s desalination plant at Kurnell.

• Recycling the ocean outfalls beginning with one ocean outfall in our first term.

• A $1 billion Drought Proofing Infrastructure Fund for NSW, to be funded in part form the sale of State Lotteries.

• Regional Water Plans for the Central Coast, Goulburn/Southern Highlands, Queanbeyan/Monaro, and North West NSW.

• Increasing the rainwater tank rebate to $1500, where they are connected to the toilet or washing machine, right across NSW – not just Sydney.

• A $400 rebate for existing owners of rainwater tanks to have them connected to the toilet or washing machine.

"Work begins on the 'New Water' Network on day one, so within two years we can ‘flick the switch’ and supplement our dam water with purified recycled water if needed. In the meantime we will use the new water for environmental flows and industry,” Mr Stoner said.

"After 12 years of Labor‘s failure, we must get serious about securing more water right across the state," Mr Stoner said.