Water Security Statement

The Water Security Statement provides an overview of water security across South Australia and includes ten strategic priorities out to July 2024. These priorities seek to further enhance water security and meet the state’s growth targets, while adapting to a changing climate.

The statement provides an overview of water security status for key population centres and water resources across South Australia and was prepared to meet the water planning requirements of the Water Industry Act 2012 (the Act).

The water-related investments and reforms undertaken across the state over the last decade have provided high levels of water security for the vast majority of the state’s population, as compared with the Millennium Drought.

The key challenge now is to build on the state’s strong legacy of water investment and reform to ensure all South Australians have adequate water security and to grow the South Australian economy in a sustainable way.

The ten strategic priorities set out in the statement include working with industry, key stakeholders and partners to:

1. Invest in understanding climate impacts to support adaptive decision-making and increase resilience.
2. In partnership with key stakeholders, develop targeted water security strategies for key water resources, communities and industries.
3. Ensure water resource management is ecologically sustainable and that water allocation plans are updated within timeframes that reflect statutory requirements and risks to users and water resources.
4. Ensure that the critical human water needs of all South Australians are able to be met, including in remote communities.
5. Continue to drive full implementation of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan to achieve a healthy River Murray – to meet critical human water needs for over 90% of South Australians, maintain vibrant river communities, meet the aspirations of First Nations peoples, and sustain internationally important flood plains and wetlands.
6. Ensure First Nations have equitable access to water resources for cultural purposes, including economic purposes.
7. Develop and implement an Urban Water Directions Statement that sets a state framework for optimising the use of all urban water sources in a way that supports growth, greening and liveable towns and cities; efficient and cost-effective water use; and the release of recycled water for productive use outside urban areas.
8. Implement the recommendations of the 2021 review of the Water Industry Act 2012 to drive innovation and competition in the water industry.
9. Invest in data management, analytics and decision support tools to efficiently monitor and manage emerging water risks and opportunities, increase transparency and support timely decision-making.
10. Work with the South Australian water sector, including water retailers and the research, innovation and education sectors, to build the state’s capacity to respond to future water challenges across the economy and capture a greater share of an expanding global market for water technologies and services.

In the development of the statement public feedback was sought. A wide range of views were provided including from local governments, water retailers, peak bodies, irrigation trusts, private industry and members of the public.

A Consultation Report has been produced to summarise the feedback received and the amendments made as a result of consultation. View the submissions received on the statement (PDF, 26 MB).

For further information about the statement, please contact us via email on DEWWater@sa.gov.au.