Two Western Australian shires are set to receive $160,600 in combined funding as part of the State Government’s Community Water Supplies Partnership Program, which includes a stormwater harvesting dam for Narrogin.
The Shire of Narembeen will receive $85,000 for four water tanks, which will store harvested rainwater from the roof of the Narembeen District High School. The collected water will reduce the school’s reliance on scheme water and will primarily be used for irrigating the school’s oval. The water will also be available to the community for firefighting and farming during emergency periods.
The Shire of Narrogin will receive $75,600 in funding to construct a 5,000kL stormwater harvesting dam to supply water to an additional two water tanks via a solar pump at the Narrogin Aerodrome. The new dam will be an important source of non-potable water during fire emergencies and it will also assist in the greening of the Narrogin Aerodrome.
The Community Water Supplies Partnership Program provides financial support to allow rural communities to adapt to changing rainfall patterns by establishing infrastructure that maximises the efficient use of available water resources.
Up to $100,000 is available per project for local government and communities to develop off-farm community water supplies. Applicants must contribute 30 per cent of the total project value as a cash or in-kind contribution.
The Community Water Supply Program is jointly funded by the Western Australian Government and through the Federal Government’s National Water Grid Connections Funding Program.
Western Australian Water Minister, Simone McGurk, said the Community Water Supplies Partnership Program provides rural communities with important funding to develop innovative water security projects.
“These projects are crucial for regional communities so they can secure water for important irrigation activities and also ensure there is a local water supply in emergency scenarios,” Ms McGurk said.
“I would like to congratulate the Shires of Narembeen and Narrogin on their successful applications for funding and I look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of the projects.”
Agricultural Region MLC, Darren West, congratulated both of the Wheatbelt shires for taking steps to ensure they have water supplies for emergency situations and their efforts to strengthen water security in their communities.
“I’d like to thank the Minister for Water and the State Government for investing in our regions through these important projects.”
