Laws not ignored amid dam build: NSW govt

NSW's premier has rejected suggestions the government is circumventing environmental protection processes by fast-tracking dam-building projects.

Gladys Berejiklian on Monday said current processes for reviewing projects were slow-moving and inadequate, but insisted all procedures would be followed.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Ms Berejiklian on Sunday committed $1 billion to NSW dams and water infrastructure projects.

Funded projects include construction of the Dungowan Dam, near Tamworth, the first dam being built in NSW since 1987.

"We're not jumping any processes," Ms Berejiklian told media in western Sydney on Monday.

"All we're saying is the processes shouldn't take so long. It shouldn't take years and years to get a significant piece of water infrastructure up and going."

Ms Berejiklian said she wanted to ensure "all the environmental impact statements are done in the proper way".

Campaign groups and reportedly some government ministers have expressed concern around the consequences of bypassing environmental checks.