RELATIONSHIPS are not the first thing that comes to mind in discussions at a water conference.
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But, if there's one thing the worst drought in living memory taught all levels of government, it's that working in silos does not work at all.
On Thursday, 150 delegates heard from NSW Regional Town Water Supply Coordinator James McTavish about exactly how the system fails communities in water management.
"We tend to do things really well in isolation, and then when we look to do things collaboratively or address the bigger problems that face communities right across NSW - we tend to stuff that up a bit," Mr McTavish said.
"The reason we do that in many instances is understandable, it's articulated but none of them are acceptable.
"The reality is the tribalism, paternalism, parochialism that we face across government, within government and between governments means we are less efficient and less capable."
Mr McTavish said that failure in coordination is most evident between state and federal governments and the local council.
"How do we avoid the paternalistic practice we have fallen into previously dealing with our colleagues in local government?" he said.
"They're an equal partner in all of this activity when it comes to drought, water quality or availability issues."
Presentations were also made from Department of Primary Industries and Environment (DPIE) water chief executive officer Jim Bentley, Naomi Schipanski from HunterH20 and Tamworth Regional Council water sustainability coordinator Tracey Carr.
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Local councils took the opportunity to talk with Mr Bentley about communication issues with DPIE, especially in times of critical water need.
"I listened to councils in the last few days telling me they come up with good designs but because they aren't the ones you would want you don't want them," he said.
"I have a hunch in some cases as government we can be too much like the final arbiter when sometimes our knowledge isn't better than the local contractor.
"There must be a way for us to play our regulatory role while also serving and we shouldn't have to choose between those two things."
Tamworth's critical drought issues and emergency water supply situation were front and centre in Ms Carr and Ms Schipanski's presentation "when day zero is not an option".