Two local projects in the Riverland are among 40 water infrastructure projects nationwide which will share in $108 million in Federal Government funding under the National Water Grid Connections funding pathway.
Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin said the Government was pleased to support projects that will improve the resilience and reliability of water infrastructure, delivering stronger water security outcomes.
The projects to be funded include ‘Waikerie Irrigated Agricultural Water Access and Security’ and ‘Greenway’s Irrigation Trust – Increasing water availability, reliability and efficiency’.
The Waikerie Irrigated Agricultural Water Access and Security project has received Federal Government funding of $1,800,000 through the National Water Grid Connections Pathway Program.
“This Waikerie Irrigated Agricultural Water Access and Security project will construct a wetland with a series of basin ponds.” Mr Pasin said.
“The wetland will collect and naturally treat town stormwater for agricultural purposes in the region, through the local Central Irrigation Trust.” Mr Pasin said.
District Council of Loxton Waikerie CEO David Beaton said the Waikerie Water Access and Security Project will rehabilitate effluent lagoons that have been abandoned for a decade and will have significant environmental benefits to Waikerie and the health of the River Murray.
“The support from local member Tony Pasin and the Federal Government to partner with Council and the Waikerie Community is fantastic and will have long term environmental benefit and add to the extensive investment into the Waikerie Riverfront. The water savings will be significant and treating the water will help protect the overall health of the river,” said Mr Beaton.
Greenway’s Irrigation Trust’s Increasing water availability, reliability and efficiency project has received Federal Government funding of $1,250,000 through the National Water Grid Connections Pathway Program.
Mr Pasin said this project is based in Nildottie and will upgrade the current river pumping station, increase the capacity of the main truck line and install modern metering. This will ensure that irrigators and domestic customers can have water delivered when required, enabling producers to shift to higher value crops such as almonds and citrus.
“The scope includes capital infrastructure of three new automated pumps, installing metering incorporating modern transmitters and duplication of a section of the rising main.” Said Mr Pasin.
Central Irrigation Trust (CIT) CEO Gavin McMahon said CIT and Greenways Irrigation trust are extremely thankful for the partnership funding provided by the Federal Government through the Water Grid Program that will support the significant upgrade to Greenways Irrigation Trust infrastructure.
“Greenways Irrigation Trust is a community Irrigation Scheme located in Nildottie. The upgrade will see the delivery system become world class with modern metering, a fully automated pump station and extra capacity for the current irrigators enabling them to switch to higher value crops and develop some unused land within the reach of the current system.” Mr McMahon said.
“The Greenways Irrigators have been planning this project for some time and the funding has now made the dream become a reality. Again, we appreciate the support of both the State and federal Governments and we look forward to commencing the works shortly and seeing Greenways Irrigation District continue to blossom.” Said Mr McMahon.
“The $3.5 billion National Water Grid Fund is paving the way to national water security, while promoting local economic activity and job creation along the way.”
“This funding will also generate employment outcomes both during construction and post completion and drive short term economic stimulus as we continue to navigate the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Mr Pasin said.
The Waikerie Irrigated Agricultural Water Access and Security project is a joint project between the Federal Government ($1,800,000) and the District Council of Loxton Waikerie ($1,000,000)
The Greenway’s Irrigation Trust’s Increasing water availability, reliability and efficiency project is a joint project between the Federal Government ($1,250,000) and the Greenway’s Irrigation Trust ($1,250,000).
For further information, visit www.nationalwatergrid.gov.au.
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