National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns
The National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns is a key component of Water for the Future. Under the plan, the Australian Government is providing $254.8 million over five years to cities and towns with fewer than 50,000 people to upgrade older pipes and water systems, to install new infrastructure and for practical projects to save water and reduce water losses.
Funding
The Government has already committed over $100 million to projects identified in the 2007 election to assist communities to adjust and adapt to a future with less water. Projects currently funded under the first stage are listed in the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns program page.
Competitive Grants Element - October 2009
Under this second stage of the Plan, competitive grants will be available to develop and implement practical projects that improve urban water security through water saving initiatives that reduce demand on potable supplies in cities and towns nationwide.
Urban water service providers, State, Territory or local governments and authorities, and the private sector are eligible to apply. Applicants are eligible to apply either individually, as a member of a consortium or an established regional organisation of councils.
The guidelines make provision for devolved grant arrangements, which may include consolidated proposals for multiple community facilities such as installation of rainwater tanks and greywater systems.
A proposed project must:
- be located in a city or town with a population fewer than 50,000 people
- have total costs of at least $500,000, with at least fifty percent contribution provided or obtained by the applicant
- be part, or support, the long-term water supply plan for the city or town, and
- be completed by 30 June 2012.
Eligible activities may include but not limited to:
- recycling and reuse
- leakage and pressure reduction
- smart metering
- efficient urban irrigation technologies
- stormwater capture and reuse schemes
- desalination, and
- water sensitive urban design initiatives
Projects which are not permitted include those that increase net extraction from groundwater or surface water resources such as bores, dams or transfer pipelines, or activities that are not supported by sound water supply planning.
Eligible applications 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 (for example, projects ready to commence will have an advantage over projects in the concept and/or planning stages).
Communities in the Murray-Darling Basin are encouraged to apply for funding under the Strengthening Basin Communities Program: Water Saving Initiative element which has similar criteria.
Clarification - 30 October 2009
Section 2.2 of the Guidelines state:
Applicants can only apply for funding once under this funding round, either individually, as a member of a consortium or as a member of an established regional organisation of councils. Multiple applications are not permitted.
This paragraph means that proponents may only submit one application per city or town.
Proponents may submit more than one application, provided they are for different eligible cities or towns.
For enquiries please phone 1800 218 478 (toll free).
Download the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns competitive grants element documents
- National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns: Implementation and funding guidelines (PDF - 456 KB) | (RTF - 265 KB)
- National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns: Application form (Word - 63 KB) | (PDF - 231 KB)
- Application tables (XLS - 18 KB)
- National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns standard funding agreement (PDF - 421 KB) | (RTF - 878 KB)
Applications are to be lodged electronically.
Initial funding round closes 5pm (EDT) Tuesday, 1 December 2009.
Further information
See:
Enquiries
For more information about the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns:
- phone - 1800 218 478 (toll free), or
- email - NWSPCT@environment.gov.au
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