Australian Government Water Fund
- Water Smart Australia Programme
- Raising National Water Standards Programme
- Community Water Grants Programme
- Projects approved for funding
The Australian Government Water Fund is a $2 billion Australian Government programme to invest in water infrastructure, improved water management, and better practices in the stewardship of Australia’s scarce water resources. The Fund will support practical on-ground water projects that will improve Australia’s water efficiency and environmental outcomes.
Those projects that help to achieve the objectives, outcomes and actions of the National Water Initiative will be eligible to receive assistance from the Fund.
The Fund comprises three programmes: Water Smart Australia; Raising National Water Standards; and the Community Water Grants programmes.
Structure of the Australian Government Water Fund
The Water Smart Australia Programme was established to accelerate the development and uptake of smart technologies and practices in water use across Australia. This programme is now administered by the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
The Raising National Water Standards Programme aims to assist the development of the necessary tools for good water management in Australia. It is managed by the National Water Commission and will direct targeted investment to improve Australia’s national capacity to measure, monitor and manage its water resources.
The Community Water Grants Programme will promote a culture of wise water use through community engagement, awareness and investment in saving and conserving water and encourage best practice measures and demonstrate water wise solutions adapted to local needs and problems. This programme is administered by the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and the Department of the Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, and information about the programme is available from the Community Water Grants website. The Community Water Grants programme was extended by $200 million in the 2007-08 Budget.