Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program in New South Wales
Water for the Future – Fact sheet
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 2009
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The well-being of Australias population and environment depends on the good management and wise use of our water resources in the face of a prolonged drought and long-term climate change.
Under the Inter-governmental Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform, signed by the Council of Australian Governments on 3 July 2008, the Australian Government committed itself to establish a process, similar to that being applied to the States, to enable private irrigation infrastructure operators in New South Wales gain access to Australian Government funding to modernise and upgrade irrigation infrastructure.
The Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program (the Program) in New South Wales has been developed to meet this commitment.
What are the aims of the Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program in New South Wales?
The Program aims to acquire water entitlements resulting from water savings generated by the implementation of eligible projects to improve the efficiency and productivity of water use and management, both off and on-farm, by private irrigation infrastructure operators, and which also secure a sustainable future for irrigation communities.
These projects will allow private irrigation infrastructure operators and their customers to minimise water losses and manage their water allocations more efficiently. They will also assist dependent irrigation communities to adapt to a future scenario of reduced water availability due to climate change.
How much funding is available?
The Intergovernmental Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform
allocated $650 million to this Program.
(visit: www.coag.gov.au/intergov_agreements/index.cfm).
Who can apply?
Private irrigation infrastructure operators located within the New South Wales section of the Murray-Darling Basin that own or operate infrastructure for the purpose of delivering water to other persons for the primary purpose of use in irrigation in the Basin. They must be legal entities capable of entering into a Funding Agreement with the Commonwealth and be registered with the Australian Taxation Office for Goods and Services Tax purposes with a valid Australian Business Number.
What is an eligible project?
Eligible projects may include the following activities:
- upgrading, closure, restructuring or reconfiguration of water delivery systems;
- upgrading of on-farm irrigation infrastructure for direct customers of eligible infrastructure operators.
- upgrading or installation of delivery system operation technologies and bulk water meters; and
- changes to river operation or storages where there are both environmental benefits and water savings to be achieved (subject to State government approval).
More information
For more information on the Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program in New South Wales visit: www.environment.gov.au/water/programs or email: WaterPlan Enquiries@environment.gov.au
Alternatively you can write to:
Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program in NSW
Water Efficiency Division
Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
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