Kangaroo Valley Tourist Association president Chris Warren said the association was not proposing a ban on water bottles as such but will be investigating producing refillable water bottles as well as providing water stations throughout the town.

“What we are doing is in the elementary stages and we are doing it in support of Bundanoon,” Mr Warren said.

The association is currently in talks with Shoalhaven Water and Shoalhaven City Council regarding the campaign.

Shoalhaven Greens councillor Amanda Findley applauded Kangaroo Valley’s initiative, which complements their decision to become carbon neutral.

“Something like this could work in Kangaroo Valley because the shop owners and community are all so committed,” she said.

Mr Warren believes the Shoalhaven should follow suit in researching sustainable solutions to drinking water supply.

“I am sure that the Shoalhaven City Council will show leadership in introducing a program across the Shoalhaven.

“I think the whole world should be [following suit]. It’s ludicrous – water bottles are not a convenience really,” he said.

Cr Findley agreed, labelling bottled water as a joke in an area with some of the cleanest drinking water available.

Ms Findley applauded Bundanoon for bringing the issue into public for debate.

“It’s a debate we need to have over use of resources.”

She thought the initiative would be harder to roll out across the Shoalhaven.

“The big supermarkets aren’t going to play, they have profits to make,” she said.

Considering the status of the Shoalhaven as a major tourist location, Mr Warren felt the initiative would benefit visitors to the area.

“Given that Kangaroo Valley offers 25 bushwalks, water supply is a professional, responsible thing to provide for visitors.”

Although in the preliminary stages, Mr Warren said ideally the measures would be implemented as soon as possible.

“We don’t want to pre-empt anything and we will follow Bundanoon’s lead.”

Mr Warren stressed the Tourist Association’s desire to put careful thought and planning into the operation to ensure its success and sustainability.

A particular obstacle that remains to be overcome for both Bundanoon and Kangaroo Valley is sourcing a producer of plastic bottles that will not be at risk of chemical leaching.

The association hopes to engage a local sustainable supply chain.

Mr Warren said it is likely that when Bundanoon finds a supplier, Kangaroo Valley will follow in its footsteps.

Other priorities for the campaign include hygiene and making the bottles attractive so people will reuse them.

“Most of the public will prefer to use a bottle and fill up rather than buy.

“Water sales will drop so that people will only buy bottles. This is the hope,” Mr Warren said.