The Western Australian Government has moved to assist five dryland agricultural local government areas generate extra emergency water to supplement farming and community supplies during periods of low rainfall.

 

State Water Minister Bill Marmion said the $233,633 in funding was part of the Department of Water’s managed Community Supply Program for dryland areas.

 

“These funds will support the investment of time and money by local government and community groups to plan and participate in the development of off-farm, fit-for-purpose community water supplies,” Mr Marmion said.

 

“All the projects demonstrate innovation in efficiency, storage and harvesting. For example, the Shire of Woodanilling in the Great Southern will receive $26,593 to complete a major stormwater harvesting project capable of capturing and storing two dry seasons worth of water.

 

“Rainfall harvested from the townsite will be pumped into a large collection dam for use as emergency livestock water, as well as irrigation for the town’s public open spaces and sports oval.”

 

Similar plans in the Wheatbelt Shire of Trayning have received $15,000 initially with a further $85,000 available pending geotechnical assessment on pumping water from a planned sump to a storage dam.


The Shire of Chapman Valley will use a grant of $85,000 to build two new bores, equip an existing bore and establish two storage tanks to supply water for emergency livestock, fire fighting and town drinking water at two locations.


The Shire of Cranbrook has received $7,000 towards establishing emergency water supplies at two sites (a dam and a soak) to take pressure off the Water Corporation standpipe used for emergency livestock water.


An engineering assessment of a plan to replace the roof of the Berringbooding Tank to maintain water quality and prevent evaporation at a key emergency water supply in the Shire of Mukinbudin has received $15,000.