The McGowan Government has granted almost $190,000 in rebates to 22 dryland farmers to help cover the costs of improving water supplies as climate change continues to have an impact on Western Australia.
More than half of the farms are in the Great Southern with the rest in the central and northern Wheatbelt.
The rebates provided are for new or upgraded infrastructure such as dams, rainwater capture and storage tanks, solar powered pumps and distribution pipes.
Funds are provided by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s Rural Water Planning program. All works were approved following on-ground assessment by local farm water auditors.
Under the Farm Water Supply Planning Scheme, farmers can claim up to 50 per cent of the cost of a water supply audit and call-backs, up to a maximum value of $750.
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 to dams and catchments, tanks, pipes and pumping systems including solar energy, identified by the audit, up to a value of $15,000.
A Pastoral Water Grants Scheme grant of up to $20,000 was also approved to support a Carnarvon pastoral station to develop a new desalinated water supply from saline groundwater.