Water Minister Dave Kelly today announced that the Shire of Dumbleyung will receive $100,000 in funding through the McGowan Government's Community Water Supplies Partnership Program.
Many communities in the State's 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 through the program assists rural communities to adapt to changing rainfall patterns by establishing infrastructure to maximise the efficient use of available water resources.
The Shire of Dumbleyung will receive $100,000 in funding to connect new tanks, pumps, pipes, and a swipe-card system to a new trial desalination plant, to improve water accessibility for the local community. The Shire is also contributing $47,425 towards the total cost of the project.
The Dumbleyung desalination trial - funded through the McGowan Government's WaterSmart Farms program - is delivered through a partnership between the Shire, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Murdoch University, and Water Corporation to provide an alternative water supply for the local community.
In November 2021, the McGowan Government announced an additional $10.5 million in funding over two years for projects to help secure additional off-farm, non-potable water supplies for agricultural communities through a range of initiatives, including the Community Water Supplies Partnership Program.
The Community Water Supplies Partnership Program provides a maximum of $100,000 per project for local government and community groups to develop off-farm community water supplies, and has so far funded 29 projects in regional communities since November 2021.
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 also been spent by the McGowan Government on direct water carting to water deficient areas to support emergency livestock needs.
The McGowan Government has invested over $4 million in delivering more than 100 community off-farm water supply projects since 2018.
As stated by Water Minister Dave Kelly:
"I'd like to congratulate the Shire of Dumbleyung on their successful grant application to assist in the funding of their desalination trial, which will provide an important alternative water supply option in the Shire.
"This project is a great example of how the Community Water Supplies Partnership Program with local governments helps rural communities adapt to climate change, by establishing infrastructure that maximises the use of available water resources."
As stated by Agricultural Region MLC Darren West:
"Our communities are at the forefront of the effects of climate change, and I'm delighted that the McGowan Government is delivering on real solutions to help secure our water future.
"I thank Minister Kelly for his continued investment into regional Western Australia."
