The challenges to providing essential water services are not the same in each remote community. State and territory governments should collaborate with local community leaders or the local Aboriginal land council to co-design and co-deliver 'whole-of-service' assessments of water services.
These assessments should identify communities at the greatest risk of receiving inadequate water services, including water source unsustainability. For those communities at risk of receiving health-threatening water services, including where there is no service information, a rectification plan is needed.
The suitability of new infrastructure for communities should be assessed according to its alignment with community preferences, population dynamics, skills requirements and long-term maintenance resources. Wherever possible, these assessments should include local traditional knowledge. The whole-of-service assessment should guide selection of new infrastructure.