Regional communities around Australia will share a total of A$85.9 million in National Water Grid funding for new infrastructure projects. A total of 23 projects will be funded across South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania under the federal government’s Water Infrastructure for Sustainable and Efficient Regions (WISER) initiative.
The projects include upgrades to treatment plants, new and upgraded pump stations, bores and tanks, and new pipelines to better protect drinking water. Other projects will recycle water for agriculture and irrigation.
Delivered in partnership with state governments and local councils, the projects will all begin by mid 2025.
In Victoria, the A$19.3 million in federal funding will be matched with A$21.3 million from the state government, and will help to deliver outcomes to the Surf Coast, Indigo Shire, Bass Coast, East Gippsland and Warrnambool regions and collectively make at least 825 megalitres of recycled water available each year.
It will also reduce reliance on vulnerable resources such as the Gellibrand River, and protect the ecologically and culturally significant Karaaf coastal saltmarch on the Surf Coast.
Queensland will receive A$20 million for five projects, with the Queensland Government contributing another A$37.2 million.
The projects will deliver water security outcomes in at least nine towns across Queensland in the Douglas Shire, Cassowary Coast, Longreach, Mareeba and the Central Highlands.
The Western Australian funding of A$20 million in federal funds will see another A$25.1 million contributed by the state government towards projects in Albany, Esperance, and Jurien Bay.
These projects are expected to improve the quality of drinking water for more than 55,000 people and secure non potable water resources in at least 28 communities, some in drought affected areas.
Tasmania will receive A$20 million with state government utility TasWater contributing A$34.9 million. The total of A$54.9 million will be invested in four projects to improve drinking water in three towns, in addition to providing at least 190 megalitres each year in recycled water for productive agricultural use.
The South Australian projects comprise four projects worth A$13.3 million, with the federal government commitment at A$6.6 million.
The projects comprise the construction of a pipeline to Mallala north of Adelaide, an upgrade to waste water plants in the Riverland towns of Waikerie and Loxton, and converting a non drinking water system in the Murraylands town of Wellington to drinking water.
