Western Australia’s Community Water Supplies Partnership (CWSP) program is set to be extended to the South West and Great Southern to help more communities manage the impacts of the recent drought conditions.
The $1.5 million dollar expansion is part of the WA Government’s $8.6m support package for agricultural industries impacted by drought conditions.
The Government says the expansion will enable local governments and community groups in the South West and Great Southern to apply over the next six months for grants of up to $100,000 to contribute to new water security projects.
Previously, CWSP program grants were only available in dryland agricultural areas receiving fewer than 600 millimetres in average annual rainfall.
“The Community Water Supplies Partnership program has already provided more than $4.3m in funding to help local communities develop climate resilient community water supplies, and has achieved some fantastic results,” said Water Minister, Simone McGurk.
“The Cook Government’s $1.5m boost to extend the program will help even more communities across the State adapt to changing rainfall patterns, helping them establish water security projects that conserve our most precious resource.”
Eligible water infrastructure works that can be considered under the CWSP program include:
- Water tanks;
- Pumps, power sources, pipes, and associated distribution systems;
- Dam and catchment construction and or maintenance;
- Standpipe and swipecards infrastructure;
- Drilling of new bores, and;
- Support for water carting equipment.
The launch of the expanded scheme coincides with the announcement that seven projects in rural communities will receive a total of $409,034 in funding for new water security projects.
The Shire of Chittering Council will receive funding for two projects, including $69,241 to install two 100-kilolitre water tanks, a solar power array, submersible pump, pipe work, and one output pump and shed for each tank, utilising an existing bore.
The Shire has been approved to receive $52,001 to install solar powered equipment and a pontoon mounted submersible pump at an existing soak site.
The Shire of Dandaragan Council will receive $66,900 in funding to provide an adequate supply of irrigation water to its Jurien Bay public open space areas and to help reduce salinity in current water sources.
The Shire of Esperance Council will receive $100,000 to upgrade the community water supply tanks in the Condingup townsite, while the Shire of Williams is receiving $17,735 to install a 110-kilolitre water tank which will provide a source of non-potable water for community use.
The Shire of Victoria Plains has been approved to receive $67,290, which will allow them to put in place a Strategic Water Plan; while the Shire of Yalgoo Council will receive $35,867 to install a solar pump and tank infrastructure to provide local volunteer firefighters with an easy access water source.
“I congratulate the six local governments who will benefit from this latest round of funding, and I urge other local government areas in the expanded program to apply,” the Water Minister said.
The Community Water Supplies Partnership program is jointly funded by the WA Government and also through the Commonwealth Government’s National Water Grid Connections Funding Program.
For more information and to apply, go to:Â Community Water Supplies Partnerships program | Western Australian Government (www.wa.gov.au).
