Damning report blames NSW government for water shortages in regional towns

Water minister Melinda Pavey had blamed local councils, but the auditor general points the finger at the state government

A damning new report has laid blame for many western New South Wales regional towns almost running out of water during the drought squarely at the feet of the state government, saying it has not effectively supported or overseen town water infrastructure planning since at least 2014".

When Dubbo, Tamworth, Walgett and other western NSW towns had to ration town water - and some even had to truck in drinking water - last summer, there was much finger pointing over who was to blame.