Stormwater harvesting and reuse projects
Water for the Future – Fact sheet
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 2009
PDF file
The Australian Government's 10-year, $12.9 billion Water for the Future plan provides a national framework integrating rural and urban water issues, to secure the long-term water supply for all Australians. Water for the Future focuses on four key priorities: taking action on climate change, using water wisely, securing water supplies and supporting healthy rivers.
As part of the Water for the Future plan, the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan will provide investment of $1 billion for desalination, water recycling and stormwater harvesting projects to assist major cities in securing their long term water supply.
Stormwater from urban run-off
Photo: J Baker
The Government has now decided to enhance the scope of the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan by providing greater incentives for urban stormwater harvesting projects in order to reduce the demand on potable water supplies. Common uses of harvested stormwater include the irrigation of parks, ovals and golf courses and other municipal and commercial purposes. Subject to suitable proposals, the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan will provide a minimum of $200 million for stormwater harvesting and reuse projects.
Support will be 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
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 special call 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).
Provision of funding to state/territory entities will be subject to achievement of water reform milestones to be detailed in bilateral agreements between the Australian Government and the relevant state or territory government.
Applications
Two funding rounds will be held, with the first round closing on 30 of June 2009 (5pm Canberra time) and the second round closing on 11 December 2009 (5pm Canberra time).
Guidelines explaining the application requirements are available from the department's website at www.environment.gov.au/water
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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