Funding is available for priority water infrastructure projects to improve the reliability and security of water for Australiaâs regional and remote towns, agriculture and primary industry sectors.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $20,000
- Application opened: 8 November 2023
- Application closed: 5 December 2023, 11:00 pm
Program objective
The NSW Government is calling for expressions of interest to participate in the Australian Government’s next round of National Water Grid funding applications in January 2024.
The Australian Government, through the National Water Grid Fund, is making funding available for priority water infrastructure projects to improve the reliability and security of water for Australia’s regional and remote towns, agriculture and primary industry sectors.
This includes both funding new infrastructure and investing in scientific research to drive long-term, economically sound, environmentally sustainable and culturally responsive benefits for local communities.
It also includes funding crucial water security projects in regional and remote First Nations communities as part of Closing the Gap.
This program is administered by Australian Government and Department of Planning and Environment.
This program is funded by Australian Government.
This program is administered by Water.
This program is funded by Department of Planning and Environment.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Projects must serve rural and regional NSW to be eligible for funding.
Who can apply
- local councils and authorities
- water utilities
- irrigation organisations
- First Nations organisations
- science agencies
- private corporations, where the project has multiple beneficiaries.
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, Clarence Valley, Cobar, Coffs Harbour, Coolamon, Coonamble, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional, Cowra, Dubbo Regional, Edward River, Eurobodalla, Federation, Forbes, Gilgandra, Glen Innes Severn, Goulburn Mulwaree, Greater Hume Shire, Griffith, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Hawkesbury, 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, Warrumbungle, Weddin, Wentworth, Wingecarribee, Yass Valley
Types of projects funded under this grant
Organisations may apply for funding for water infrastructure projects including:
- recycling plants
- groundwater storage
- dams
- weirs
- pipelines
- desalination plants
- irrigation district modernisation or expansion
- other projects that facilitate the movement of water.
Funding is available to:
- conduct a feasibility study (science program)
- develop a preliminary business case
- develop a detailed business case
- undertake construction work.
Outcomes for projects funded under this grant
Open
1. The department opens stage 1 applications for 4 weeks.
Evaluation
2. The department evaluates projects for eligibility and alignment to National Water Grid Investment Framework and NSW Government considerations.
Shortlist
3. An evaluation committee shortlists projects to recommend to the Deputy Secretary Water Group and the NSW Minister for Water to proceed to stage 2 applications.
Collaborate
4. The department’s Infrastructure Development team works with shortlisted projects to develop the stage 2 formal funding application.
Submission
5. Applications are submitted to the Australian Government for assessment and funding consideration. The funding decision is usually made within 3-4 months.
Types of projects not funded under this grant
Projects that are not eligible for funding include:
- on-farm initiatives
- urban water storage and distribution systems (without a benefit to primary industry or regional development)
- maintenance or refurbishment projects without a benefit element
- projects supplying water for the exclusive use of a private business or individual.
Example projects
Previously funded projects include:
Tamworth Advanced Water Treatment Plant
The detailed business case will investigate building NSW’s first regional industrial advanced water treatment plant. The plant, if built, would help protect Tamworth’s long term water security by recycling up to 12 megalitres (ML) of wastewater a day.
Eurobodalla Southern Storage Project
This project involves increasing storage capacity by 3000 ML and providing an estimated additional 581 ML per annum for downstream irrigators and stock watering, improving water availability and security for the Eurobodalla region.
Managed Aquifer Recharge Project
This state-wide research project involves a detailed desktop study to advance possible large-scale agricultural magnified aquifer recharge schemes in irrigation areas of NSW, building on opportunities identified in the CSIRO's rapid appraisal research.
Walcha Off-Stream Water Storage Project
This project involves the construction of a 300 ML off-stream storage dam, river off-take pumping station, and modifications to existing water supply infrastructure to integrate new and existing systems, to secure Walcha’s future water supply.
West Wyalong Water Reliability Project
This project involves the construction of a new standpipe reservoir, 15 km pipeline and a new transfer pump station, to improve the low-pressure issues within Wyalong and West Wyalong, which have caused challenges in developing or expanding water service beyond the existing service area.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
National Water Grid Fund eligibility criteria
To be eligible for National Water Grid Fund funding, projects must:
- be a new capital investment in infrastructure that increases the security, quality and/or availability of water for regional and remote communities, and/or productive use
- deliver a demonstrable public benefit with a national interest element and demonstrated engagement with affected stakeholders (including First Nations people)
- be brought forward with strong support by a state or territory government (including securing funding contributions) and be dependent on a Commonwealth contribution.
Projects seeking funding through the First Nations Infrastructure Program must also:
- prioritise First Nations communities that don’t have access to clean and reliable drinking water.
Projects seeking funding through the Science Program must meet 1 of the following themes:
- analyse water resources, to understand future sustainability and nature positive development options
- identify and progress alternative and emerging opportunities to increase water security and climate change resilience
- develop new information resources to support decision-making, including decision support tools and science communication.
NSW Government considerations
Applications will be assessed against whether the project:
- is identified as a NSW government priority
- is prioritised by existing policy drivers
- is based in a regional or remote community that has critical town water security issues
- already has co-funding secured
- also improves environmental outcomes and/or outcomes for First Nations people.
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.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Federal and NSW Government Ministers for Water
Successful applications will be decided by: the Department of Planning and Environment's Water Group.
An evaluation committee made up of senior staff from the NSW Government will assess the expressions of interest and detailed applications, identify those that best meet the funding criteria, and work with eligible organisations to help develop funding proposals for consideration by the Australian Government.
Anticipated assessment outcome date is Submission will be made to the Federal Government in early 2024. The federal funding decision can take three to four months.
Support and contact
Phone: 1300 081 047
Email: nwgf-info@dpie.nsw.gov.au