Stormwater harvesting and reuse projects
Water for the Future – Fact sheet
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, January 2010
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The Australian Government's ten year, $12.9 billion Water for the Future plan provides a national framework integrating rural and urban water issues, and is built on four key priorities: taking action on climate change, using water wisely, securing water supplies and supporting healthy rivers.
The National Urban Water and Desalination Plan is a key component of 'Water for the Future' and will provide investment of $1 billion to establish new sources of water supply through the use of desalination, water recycling and stormwater harvesting.
The Government has committed a minimum of $200 million under National Urban Water and Desalination Plan for urban stormwater harvesting and reuse projects that reduce the demand on potable water supplies. Common uses of harvested stormwater includes the irrigation of parks, ovals and golf courses and other municipal and commercial purposes.
Support is available for urban stormwater harvesting and reuse projects in both large cities and smaller towns that contribute to:
- improving the security of water supplies in Australia, without adding to greenhouse gas emissions.
- reducing the demand on potable water supplies.
- helping to reduce the impact of urban run-off on water quality in receiving waters.
Projects will need to source 100 per cent of their energy needs from renewable sources or fully offset the carbon impact of the project's operations.
Details of funding
Support will be provided through a competitive grant process over two funding rounds. The outcomes of the first round have been announced and the Government is providing $86 million for thirteen stormwater harvesting and reuse projects in Brisbane, Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and Adelaide.
The second round is open and applications for stormwater harvesting and reuse projects may be submitted until the closing date of 10 February 2010.
State, territory and local government, public water utilities and private companies are eligible to apply.
Project funding is available for 50 per cent of eligible capital costs. The minimum project size is $4 million (eligible for funding of $2 million). While there is no maximum project size, funding is capped at $20 million (GST exclusive) per project. Funding is available for project work to be completed by 30 June 2013.
Projects that are not eligible under this grant round include:
- stormwater management that does not include a significant reuse component (eg projects primarily for flood mitigation or water quality purposes)
- rainwater reuse from residential buildings using domestic rainwater tanks
- combined effluent and stormwater reuse schemes
- harvesting stormwater from predominantly non-urban catchments (eg rural or forested)
- irrigation schemes using aquifers, streams or river water from largely non-urban catchments; and
- projects that are being implemented to meet local, state, territory or Australian Government requirements. For example, stormwater infrastructure required to meet development conditions such as local government development controls or BASIX (in New South Wales).
Applications
The second round closes on 10 February 2010 (5pm Canberra time).
Guidelines explaining the application requirements are available from the department's website at: http://www.environment.gov.au/water/programs/urban/stormwater-harvesting.html
Please monitor this website for any future updates on this funding round.
More Information
For more information telephone 1800 218 478 (toll tree) or email: stormwaterfunding@environment.gov.au
For further information on the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan:
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