The State Government’s Smart Water Fund
The Smart Water Fund presents opportunities to create and develop innovative water resource management programs. In particular, the Fund encourages approaches to recycle water, biosolids and water savings for future urban, and environmental needs.
The emphasis has been on INNOVATIVE projects. I think they are looking for something a bit different than putting rainwater tanks on buildings, changing single flush to dual flush toilets, water saving shower heads, etc.
Applications for funding under Round 5 of this fund will open shortly.
Examples of projects funded in the previous round include:-
| Smart Water Fund Regional Open Projects | |
|---|---|
| Ovens & Murray Football League | Implementation of a water audit, retrofit and environmental education campaign at the 10 clubs within the Ovens & Murray Football League. Clubs will be competing against each other based on water savings achieved and will be promoted through a Sustainability Ladder. |
| Australasian Spa Association of Australia | Implementation of a water audit and benchmarking study of water usage within spa and wellness facilities, identifying and communicating best practices to the industry. |
| Sovereign Hill | Developing an innovative approach to replace mains water with stormwater in the Museum's boiler system displays, incorporating a water education program for school groups and the general public. |
| Beckley Park Committee of Management | Installation and trialling of innovative technologies to treat and reuse wastewater and utilise rainwater for racehorse track irrigation and toilet flushing, and trialling of a unique dust suppressant for the harness racing track, in order to reduce reliance on potable water. |
| Bendigo Bank | Installation and trialling of technology to treat and recycle black and greywater onsite for toilet flushing and collection of rainwater for irrigation at Bendigo Bank’s new head office in Bendigo. |
| HMAA (Hotel Motel Accommodation Association of Vic) | Implementation of a water wise audit and retrofit program - developing a set of case studies that promote best practice conservation initiatives to the motel and accommodation industry. |
| ERA Nurseries | Installation and trialling of a unique collection, treatment and re-use system for substituting potable water with rainwater and irrigation runoff for a seedling production facility in Hamilton. |
| Racing Victoria Ltd | Construction and trial of a waterless synthetic equine training track at Bendigo Racecourse. |
| Tatura Milk Industry | Implementation and trialling of a unique water redistribution system to collect and transfer water within the Dairy Plant to reduce potable water usage. |
| Bendigo Health | Installation and trialling of a unique system for replacing potable water with Class A recycled water for use in a large health care laundry facility. |
If you are interested, I suggest you register to receive electronic updates. Regards
Jodi BjorkstenFor details/interview call the Editor on (03) 5798 1858