This document provides a comprehensive set of guidelines to facilitate the use of recycled water in earthworks for local councils in New South Wales (NSW). By consolidating state and national regulations, industry standards, and practices from other jurisdictions, the guidelines aim to address key challenges and streamline adoption of recycled water in earthworks. 
The proposed framework offers councils the tools to address present barriers to implementing recycled water earthworks projects by achieving the following:

• Providing relevant context and information on the sources and treatment of recycled water and the classification system.
• Outlines the site controls, quality standards, and Work Health and Safety (WHS) measures required to mitigate environmental and health risks.  
• Provides a customisable Risk Assessment Framework as a tool to be implemented by council to easily identify, quantify and mitigate risks associated with recycled water specific to individual projects.   
• Provides a customisable Stakeholder Engagement Plan that simplifies stakeholder identification, assesses their impact and influence, and recommends tailored communication strategies using appropriate tools to effectively manage their concerns.
• Provides a Regulator Management Plan for councils in New South Wales that outlines existing national and state level regulations and references specific requirements from South Australia and Western Australia where information is lacking.
• Provides an operational toolkit on the transport of recycled water focusing on the different requirements between supply of potable drinkable water and recycled water.

These guidelines are designed to empower councils to integrate recycled water into construction projects confidently. By reducing reliance on potable water, they support long-term sustainability and cost-effective water management in drought-affected regions, ensuring continuity in essential infrastructure development while mitigating environmental impacts.