The WA Government has provided rebates totalling more than $420,000 to help 41 dryland farms cover the costs of improving water supplies, as they battle the effects of reduced rainfall due to climate change.
The rebates are for new or upgraded infrastructure such as dams, rainwater capture and storage tanks, solar powered pumps and distribution pipes and are spread across farms in 32 local government areas from the Mid-West to the Great Southern.
Funds are from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s Rural Water Planning program and all works were approved following on-ground assessments 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.
Three additional grants of up to $54,678.82 under the Pastoral Water Grants Scheme were approved to support improvements to water supplies on pastoral stations in Yannarie, Mount Magnet and the Upper Gascoyne.