$42.5 million for stormwater and re-use projects

The Gillard government will provide more than $42 million to deliver nine innovative and sustainable stormwater harvesting and re-use projects to help secure water supplies in urban areas across Australia.

Senator Don Farrell, Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, recently announced the successful applicants under the Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse Projects third competitive grants round.

“These projects will provide more than 5.5 billion litres of treated stormwater a year and improve water security by diversifying water supplies available in urban areas,” Senator Farrell said.

“Several of the projects announced today will provide treated stormwater for irrigation of community sportsgrounds, parks, gardens and golf courses, and some will use treated stormwater for industrial purposes.

“Re-using stormwater for irrigation and industrial uses helps save the valuable drinking water that would otherwise be used for these purposes.

“The Gillard government is supporting ambitious and innovative uses of harvested and treated stormwater that create a portfolio of water sources to meet community, industry and development needs while conserving high-quality and high-value drinking water. I would like to acknowledge the very strong and competitive field of proposals put forward by many organisations under this grant round.”

The stormwater harvesting and re-use projects will also play an important role in reducing the impact of urban run-off on rivers, estuaries and coastal waters. Projects are required to either source 100% of their energy needs from renewable sources or fully offset the carbon impact of the project’s operations.

The Member for Wakefield, Nick Champion, said the Gillard government’s commitment of more than $10 million to the Gawler Water Reuse Project would help secure water supplies in the north.

“Stormwater run-off will feed into wetlands, where it will be naturally cleansed and then stored in an aquifer before being used on local parks, gardens, school ovals and industrial areas, saving us millions of litres of drinking water and ensuring the local community’s open spaces and industry have the water they need. It’s great for the north and crucial for future water security.”

The Minister for Water and the River Murray, Paul Caica, said he was pleased the projects would contribute to the statewide target of harvesting up to 75 gigalitres of stormwater a year by 2050.

“South Australia received around $67.5 million in federal funding under the first two rounds, supported by approximately $53 million from the state government. I look forward to seeing these three new projects develop.”

The third round of funding for stormwater harvesting and re-use projects forms part of the Australian Government’s National Urban Water and Desalination Plan, which is a key component of the Water for the Future initiative and supports urban areas to secure water supplies and reduce reliance on traditional water sources.

As a result of this third round, the Australian Government has now committed more than $200 million towards stormwater harvesting and re-use projects across the nation.