Water Minister Dave Kelly today announced that the regional shires of Lake Grace, Wagin, Pingelly, and Woodanilling will share in more than $472,507 in grants - in the latest round of the McGowan Government's $3.2 million Community Water Supplies Partnership Program. The latest round of grants will provide over $1 million in new funding for projects to improve local water security, and will assist regional communities in managing the impacts of climate change
Many communities in the State's Great Southern and Southern Wheatbelt have experienced significantly reduced rainfall due to the impacts of climate change. The Community Water Supplies Partnership Program is part of the McGowan Government's ongoing commitment to ensure our farmers have access to reliable agricultural and emergency livestock drinking water sources.
Funding will assist rural communities to adapt to changing rainfall patterns, by establishing infrastructure to maximise the efficient use of available water resources.
Two grants for $100,000 and $96,574 have been awarded to the Shire of Lake Grace - to help upgrade the Buniche and Dempster Rock agricultural dams and catchments, boosting supplies in local areas experiencing water deficiencies. Through these grants, the Shire will also install two 500 kilolitre tanks in Lake Grace town to store collected stormwater, to support the increased water availability in the townsite.
A grant of $78,593 will help provide three additional access points for emergency water supply in the town of Wagin. The project will improve water security in Wagin, and the wider community during an emergency.
The Shire of Woodanilling will receive funding totalling $99,975, to increase the capture and utilisation of storm water from the town dam precinct. Two new tanks will provide more water storage, and an additional bore will supplement non-potable supplies during the dry summer months. This will provide more water for the community, while reducing reliance on scheme water.
The Shire of Pingelly has also been granted $97,365 to expand the townsite's non-potable supply network, in order to help reduce the Shire's reliance on scheme water to supplement irrigation of their sporting facilities.
This project will help maintain suitable turf conditions, allowing sports to be played throughout the summer and autumn months, which in turn offers opportunities to attract higher profile sports games, and more visitors to Pingelly.
The Community Water Supplies Partnership Program - funded in partnership with local government - provides up to $100,000 per project for local government and community groups to develop off-farm community water supplies.
The $3.2 million Community Water Supplies Partnership Program is a collaboration between the Commonwealth and Western Australian Governments.
Since May 2019, more than $3.9 million has been spent by the McGowan Government on direct water carting to water deficient areas to support emergency livestock needs.
A further $2.64 million has been spent on developing and upgrading 113 strategic community water supplies and government-owned water sources since June 2018, and another $1.5 million in partnerships with local governments to upgrade and develop local community water supplies.
In November 2021, the McGowan Government announced an additional $10.5 million in funding over the next two years, for projects to help secure additional off-farm non-potable water supplies for agricultural communities - including the upgrade and refurbishment of 70 agricultural area dams from the Mid-West, to the Wheatbelt and Great Southern.
As stated by Water Minister Dave Kelly:
"Congratulations to the Shires of Lake Grace, Pingelly, Wagin, and Woodanilling in securing this funding for their projects, which will help secure and boost water availability for their local communities.
"The Community Water Supplies Partnership Program grants will help these regional communities reduce their reliance on scheme water for non-potable needs.
"These projects are a great example of local governments helping their communities use local water supplies effectively, to help adapt to climate change."
As stated by Agricultural Region MLC Shelley Payne:
"The Community Water Supplies Partnership Program with Local Governments is a great initiative, supporting regional communities to boost water supplies and increase water security.
"I congratulate the Shires of Lake Grace, Pingelly, Wagin and Woodanilling for their dedication to improving water management, and increase water supplies."
