Water Minister Dave Kelly today announced the State Government would provide $174,306 in funding to Western Australian farmers and pastoralists to develop sustainable water options for their farms.
A total of 17 farmers will receive rebates totalling $154,306 under the Farm Water Supply Planning Scheme and the Farm Water Rebate Scheme, and one pastoralist will receive $20,000 through the Pastoral Water Grants Scheme.
For the last 20 years, the Farm Water Supply Planning Scheme has been helping farmers who receive less than 600 millimetres of rainfall a year by allowing them to claim 50 per cent of the cost of water supply audits and call-back visits, up to a maximum value of $750.
These farmers can then apply to the Farm Water Rebate Scheme for up to 50 per cent of the cost of a range of infrastructure improvements identified by the audit, such as dams, tanks, pipes and pumping systems including solar energy, up to a maximum rebate value of $15,000.
The Pastoral Water Grants Scheme helps protect pastoral properties against water shortages and enhances homestead water supplies, with grants of up to $20,000.