Community Water Grants Program - Round 3

The Australian Government is currently calling for applications under Round 3 of the Community Water Grants Program. The Community Water Grants aim to:-

Promote a culture of wise water use through community engagement and awareness about saving and conserving water
Encourage best practice measures and demonstrate water wise solutions adapted to tackle local needs & problems
Provide the support and means for community groups to undertake on-ground projects under the 3 areas of activity – water savings & efficient; water recycling and water treatment such as protecting or enhancing the health of the rivers, wetlands and groundwater resources

Grants up to $50,000 are available to agricultural, conservation & other community groups, indigenous organisations, sporting clubs, schools, local government and the private sector. Under special eligibility criteria, grants of between $100,000 and $250,000 will also be available.

Some examples of projects funded under the previous round include:-

Cranbourne West Primary School

This project will save water at Cranbourne West Primary School by installing water tanks to collect rainwater. The collected rainwater will be used to maintain the school grounds and oval. This project will save 1,246,000 litres of water per year. $42,620 allocated

Maryborough District Health Service

This project will save water at Maryborough through the installation of water tanks. The harvested rainwater will be pumped into the irrigation system. The project will save 2,736,000 litres of water per year. $44,091 allocated

Ringwood Secondary College

Ringwood Secondary college are saving water by recycling rainwater for toilet use. They also plan to install dual flush toilets and waterless urinals for further savings. This project is expected to reduce the use of mains water by approximately 700,000 litres per year. $43,341 allocated

Maryborough District Health Service

Maryborough district health services will save water by irrigating the local garden with water collected by installing a water tank. The project will save 1,254,000 litres of water per year. $29,042 allocated

Ashwood Childrens Centre Incorporated

Ashwood Childcare Centre will save water by installing water tanks to supplement water used in the facility's toilets. This project will save 580,000 litres of water per year. $31,079 allocated

Bianco Enterprises Proprietary Limited

Bianco Enterprises will save water by repairing a damaged water tank. Once repair work has been completed the project will save 7,000,000 litres of water per year. $15,000 allocated.

St John of Kronstadt Russian Welfare Society Dandenong

St John of Kronstradt aged care nursing home will save water by installing water tanks. The home will save 1,420,000 litres of water a year by using the water for grounds and toilet flushing. $44,693 allocated

More info is available from www.communitywatergrants.gov.au.

Registrations close at 5pm on Friday, 22 June and you must be a registered applicant to be able to submit an application.

On-line submissions close 11am Wednesday, 4 July. Hard copy forms must be received in Canberra by 5pm Friday, 22 June 2007.

Free information sessions will be held as follows:-

Alexandra – Wednesday, 16 May – 2pm to 4pm, DPI offices, 46 Aitken St, Alexandra
Benalla – Thursday, 17 May – 3pm to 5pm – DPI Offices, 89 Sydney Road, Benalla
Shepparton – Wednesday, 23 May – 12 – 2pm – DPI Offices, 15 Hume & Hovell Road, Seymour

Please RSVP at least 2 days prior to the session you plan to attend to Ms Casey Damon at GBCMA – caseyd@gbcma.vic.gov.au or call (03) 5820 1114

For any group intending to lodge an application, I definitely encourage you to attend one of these sessions as it will greatly assist you with preparation of your application. The application process in this case is quite long-winded and some say complicated so any assistance you can access would be of benefit.

JODI BJORKSTEN, Grants Co-ordinator
Strathbogie Shire Council, PO Box 177, EUROA VIC 3666

Ph: 03 5795 2010, Toll Free: 1800 065 993 Fax: 03 5795 3550
Email: jodib@strathbogie.vic.gov.au Website: http://www.strathbogie.vic.gov.au

For details/interview call the Editor on (03) 5798 1858