Oxley member Melinda Pavey is now the NSW Minister for Water, Property and Housing following the cabinet reshuffle earlier this week.
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Ms Pavey is ready to take on the challenge and said we need more clean and safe drinking water during the drought.
"It is a very challenging area of policy but I think one message I keep getting is we need to be able to invest in the infrastructure to enable environmental flows, to enable more water to be available for communities like Brewarrina and Walgett to have clean safe drinking water during a terrible drought," she said.
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Ms Pavey said these communities worst hit by the drought have been traumatised. Growing up on an irrigated dairy farm, she said, means she understands water and its good management.
"I look forward to getting a full briefing, as well as industry, and to listen to all people. I believe I have a capacity to be able to work across state lines and I've enjoyed that very much in the Roads Portfolio.
"We are here to serve our community to get the best outcome, and I'm thrilled that my leader has given me this incredible opportunity. Yes, an incredible challenge, but he wouldn't have done so if he didn't think I was up to it," Ms Pavey said.
"In our election campaign, we announced a $25 million investment that we will be making in exploring the Bradfield Scheme. That is an issue that goes across those state boundaries. We need to do more than talking about it. There's going to be some money on the table."
Ms Pavey said a number of challenges such as climate change increase the need for water security, not just in Western NSW but also locally on the Mid North Coast.
"We need, with the challenges in front of us like climate change, more reliability, more water security and that is the focus, but that I'll be taking up to see and explore other water opportunities to build capacity," she said.
"I just can't wait to get out on the road, out on the ground, talking to our community. It's not just the Western part of NSW we have issues with water. We've got issues here, and as the local member, I've been up fighting some of those issues for my constituents in recent years."
Ms Pavey said her local constituents of Oxley will always benefit while their local member is involved in cabinet.
"Oxley will always benefit when their local member has a voice at the cabinet table. I will continue to deliver and serve my region to the fullest," she said.
