Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: Up to $150,000.
- Application opened: 12 June 2025
- Application closes: 10 July 2025, 11:00 pm
Program objective
AOS works on-site with LWU teams to reduce drinking water quality risks and improve workplace health and safety by providing onsite assessment with technical and training support to optimise existing water treatment plant infrastructure and extend asset life. The project upskills operators who face challenges such as rapid changes in raw water quality, but sometimes lack the technical skills, capacity or appropriate monitoring equipment to assess and resolve treatment process issues effectively.
This program is administered by Water.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are regionally based organisations responsible for water supply services, including:
Local councils as defined under the Local Government Act 1993 (Section 56), and
Water supply authorities as defined under the Water Management Act 2000.
To be considered eligible, the applicant must answer 'yes' to all of the following criteria:
Eligibility Criteria 1: The organisation is a local council (under the Local Government Act 1993, providing water supply and/or sewerage services under Section 56), or a water supply authority (under the Water Management Act 2000).
Eligibility Criteria 2: The water treatment plant has not been formally supported previously under the Advanced Operational Support (AOS) program.
Eligibility Criteria 3: The water treatment plant has been assigned (or is eligible to be assigned) a water quality risk score under the Safe and Secure Water Program (SSWP) Eligible Risks and Issues List (ERIL).
Each eligible applicant may nominate up to two water treatment plants for support under AOS Phase 3. Applications that do not meet all three criteria will not progress to further evaluation.
Location that are eligible include Albury City, Armidale Regional, Ballina, Balranald, Bathurst Regional, Bega Valley, Bellingen, Berrigan, Bland, Blayney, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Byron, Cabonne, Carrathool, Central Coast, Central Darling, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Cobar, Coffs Harbour, Coolamon, Coonamble, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional, Cowra, Dubbo Regional, Dungog, Edward River, Eurobodalla, Federation, Forbes, Gilgandra, Glen Innes Severn, Goulburn Mulwaree, Greater Hume Shire, Griffith, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Hay, Hilltops, Inverell, Junee, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lachlan, Leeton, Lismore, Lithgow City, Liverpool Plains, Lockhart, Mid-Coast, Mid-Western Regional, Moree Plains, Murray River, Murrumbidgee, Muswellbrook, Nambucca Valley, Narrabri, Narrandera, Narromine, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional, Richmond Valley, Shoalhaven, Singleton, Snowy Monaro Regional, Snowy Valleys, Tamworth Regional, Temora, Tenterfield, Tweed, Unincorporated Far West, Upper Hunter, Upper Lachlan Shire, Uralla, Wagga Wagga, Walcha, Walgett, Warren, Weddin, Wentworth, Wingecarribee, Yass Valley
Types of projects funded under this grant
Not Applicable
Types of projects not funded under this grant
Metropolitan Local Water Utilities
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
To be considered eligible for Advanced Operational Support funding, the applicant must answer 'yes' to all of the following criteria:
Eligibility Criteria 1: The organisation is a local council (under the Local Government Act 1993, providing water supply and/or sewerage services under Section 56), or a water supply authority (under the Water Management Act 2000).
Eligibility Criteria 2: The water treatment plant has not been formally supported previously under the Advanced Operational Support (AOS) program.
Eligibility Criteria 3: The water treatment plant has been assigned (or is eligible to be assigned) a water quality risk score under the Safe and Secure Water Program (SSWP) Eligible Risks and Issues List (ERIL).
Applicants must also complete and submit an EOI form via SmartyGrants, including the following details:
Name of Local Water Utility (LWU) and contact information
Name of the proposed participating water treatment plant
Summary of current operational risks (e.g., CCP breaches, operator capacity, maintenance tracking)
CCP table with target and critical limits, including monitoring and breach response methods
Description of existing systems (e.g., SCADA, telemetry, turbidity meters, plant interlocks)
Details of any recent or planned major upgrades or replacements
Confirmation of eligibility against the three criteria listed in the guidelines
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Start the application
A single Expression of Interest (EOI) process is used to select all participants.
EOIs are submitted through SmartyGrants and are open for four weeks.
The Grant Guidelines and application form are published alongside the EOI to ensure clarity and transparency.
Following assessment and approval, offers of participation (including the nature of the support, delivery round and grant value (if any) are issued.
Applicants must formally accept offers within 14 days.
Upon acceptance, project workplans are developed and support delivery commences from August 2025 and will be delivered progressively across two rounds.
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: NSW Government Minister for Water
The assessment is conducted by the AOS Advisory Group, comprising representatives from DCCEEW, NSW Health, and the Water Directorate. EOIs are first reviewed for eligibility, then assessed on merit using three weighted criteria:
Water quality risk score (based on SSWP ERIL)
Operational risks (identified through DCCEEW inspections)
Plant performance (as demonstrated in the EOI)
Each submission is assessed and scored by panel consensus against the criteria. A total of 20 participants will be selected to participate. Recommendations are made to the Deputy Secretary Water, with successful applicants advised in writing.
Support and contact
Grants - sswp@dpie.nsw.gov.au
Program - julie.meyer@dpie.nsw.gov.au.