Steph Cooke
Shadow Minister for Water
Shadow Minister for Crown Lands
WATER BILLS FOR NSW FAMILIES AND FARMERS FAST BECOMING UNAFFORABLE
Media Release posted Thursday 25 June,2026
Sydney families and regional farmers are bracing for escalating water costs, with Sydney Water set to raise bills by 6.7 per cent and farmers across NSW facing up to 50 per cent increases over the next four years to water their crops.
The increases come as households continue to grapple with rising costs of living and farmers battle mounting pressures from fuel, fertiliser, and other input costs.
This week, Sydney families were told they can expect their water bills to rise by an average of $100 per year, with further increases forecast each year through to at least the 2029-30 financial year.
NSW Shadow Minister for Water, Steph Cooke, said the increases undermine the Minns Labor Government’s claim that its budget was focused on easing cost-of-living pressures for families.
“This hike in water prices effectively cancels out the budget’s centerpiece of $100 rego relief for the majority of Sydney households,” Ms Cooke said.
“The Treasurer has already acknowledged that his government could do more to ease the pressure of rising water bills, but the reality is the Government has had four budgets to invest appropriately in this space yet neglected to do so.”
Pressure is also mounting for regional NSW, where IPART has approved water price increases of almost 50 per cent, excluding inflation, across many valleys over the next four years.
Ms Cooke, who represents an agricultural region, said the timing of the increases could not be worse for farmers already facing significant cost pressures.
“There is a limit to how much additional cost farmers can absorb before their operations become simply unviable, and this decision will be make or break for those already doing it tough,” Ms Cooke said.
“There is a real risk of a cycle where rising prices force users out of the sector, leaving fewer customers to carry an increasing cost of receiving WaterNSW’s services.”
“And offsetting all of this are everyday NSW families, who are continuing to pay more for staple items at the supermarket.”
IPART has acknowledged that WaterNSW’s costs are rising faster than many customers’ ability to pay, indicating that the current pricing model faces significant sustainability challenges.
Ms Cooke said the increases highlighted the need for a broader review of how water is priced across NSW.
“The focus must now shift to delivering a long-term water pricing framework that is overall affordable for families and sustainable for farmers,” she said.
“These price rises are hitting close to home for families and farmers, and the Government must act before more households and producers are pushed to breaking point.”
“We must see a comprehensive review which IPART has recommended and ensure regional NSW has a long-term pricing framework that is sustainable.
