Strengthening Basin Communities program
Map showing the Murray-Darling Basin boundary overlain with local government boundaries
The Australian Government has committed $200 million from Water for the Future to establish the Strengthening Basin Communities program.
Under this program competitive grants will be available for local governments in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) to:
- assist them in community-wide planning for a future with less water, and
- invest in water savings initiatives including cost effective water infrastructure that meets the needs of communities now and into the future.
Funding
The program will be implemented through two separate components – the Planning component and the Water Saving Initiatives component.
Planning component
The initial funding round for the Planning component closed on Friday 21 August 2009.
In this component of the program, local government bodies in the MDB were eligible to apply for funding to systematically assess the risks and implications associated with climate change, with a particular focus on water availability, and then review existing plans or develop new plans to take account of these risks and implications.
This funding can be used to prepare plans and business cases for adaptation initiatives which may be eligible for funding under the Water Saving Initiatives component of the Strengthening Basin Communities program.
Water Saving Initiatives component
There are two funding rounds for this component of the program. The first round closed on Friday 6 November 2009.
It is anticipated the second round will be conducted in 2010-11 to allow local governments to apply for funding for water saving measures developed through the planning process.
This stage of the program supports projects to improve urban water security through water saving initiatives that reduce demand on potable supplies in the MDB.
Local government bodies and urban water service providers whose area intersects with the catchment boundary of the MDB are eligible to apply for assistance under these guidelines. However, to receive assistance projects must be located within the boundary of the MDB. Applications can be submitted by an individual local government, a consortium of local government, or an established regional organisation of councils.
A proposed project must:
- be located in a city or town within the MDB
- have total costs of at least $500,000, with at least 50 per cent contribution provided or obtained by the applicant
- be part of, or support, the long-term water supply plan for the city or town, and
- must be completed by 30 June 2012.
Applicants will be assessed on merit using the following criteria:
- level of contribution to water security by reducing overall demand for potable water within the water supply area
- technically sound and able to deliver the proposed outcomes with a high degree of certainty
- value for money
- net environmental and social benefits and/or impacts, and
- likelihood of completion within the funding period.
Download the Strengthening Basin Communities - Water Savings Initiative component documents
- Guidelines for Strengthening Basin Communities program: Water Savings Initiative component (PDF - 640 KB) | (RTF - 266 KB)
- Application form (RTF - 375 KB)
- Application table (XLS - 18 KB)
Applications are to be filled in and submitted electronically to SBC@environment.gov.au using the attached Application form and Application table. No handwritten applications will be accepted. All supporting documentation is to be either submitted electronically with the original application or sent via the post in CD format.
Initial funding round closed 5pm (EDT) Friday, 6 November 2009.
Further information
Enquiries
For more information about the Strengthening Basin Communities program:
- phone - 1800 218 478 (toll free), or
- email - SBC@environment.gov.au
Subscribe to the Water Matters newsletter
For up-to-date information about the Australian Government's Water for the Future plan.
Before you download
Most publications are available as PDF files. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view PDF files.
If you are unable to access a publication, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.
Key
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window