On 26 July 2019, the Australian Government launched the Water Efficiency Program. The program aimed to increase water use efficiency and recover water for the environment to meet Basin Plan 2012 targets.
The program was designed to enable applications that could recover water from on-farm, off-farm, urban, industrial and water metering infrastructure projects across the Basin. Project funding was available up to 1.75 times the current market value of the water rights eligible participants would transfer. The current market value of the water was calculated at time of initial assessment using the Department's Valuation Methodology (PDF 342 KB), The volume weighted average price (VWAP) and upper price range were calculated for the entitlements to be transferred to the Australian Government using market source data from BoM for the preceding 12 months.
There were three streams available for delivery: state led projects; delivery partners; and project partners.
Water saving projects needed to demonstrate a neutral or positive social and economic impact for the community, and all projects were assessed against the social and economic criteria agreed by the Murray–Darling Basin Ministerial Council on 14 December 2018. The department worked with Basin states to consider the socio-economic outcomes of all proposed projects, and each project proposal was subject to a period of public comment through Have Your Say and Engage Victoria.
On 3 March 2021 the then Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia announced the closure of the Water Efficiency Program. Proposals received before 3 March 2021 were able to be assessed under the Water Efficiency Program’s guidelines. All assessments were completed by 4 August 2021. All project works are to be completed by June 2024. The Program is now closed to further applications.
Program summary
As at 6 August 2021
Total number of approved projects: 28
Total funding for projects*: $10,812,321.38 (incl GST)
Total volume of water contracted to be recovered: 757.50 megalitres (nominal) of water savings, (this equates to 668.1 ML/y of LTAAY)*
*LTAAY is Long Term Average Annual Yield – LTAAY is a water accounting tool that enables different types of entitlement to be counted on equal terms to track the volumes of water that have been recovered, in a way that is consistent and accurate across the Basin. More information on LTAAY and water recovery is available on the Progress towards meeting environmental needs under the Basin Plan webpage.
Note: These projects are all managed by delivery partners. Program participants retain additional water savings from projects beyond those contracted to be transferred to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder. The Program operated in all surface water SDL units across the Murray–Darling Basin.
* Note: the total funding for projects reflects the funding reported on AusTender in accordance with mandatory reporting requirements under the Commonwealth Procurement Rules and comprises of:
| GST exclusive | GST inclusive | |
|---|---|---|
| Project Funding – Project Cost Fee and Administration Fee | $9,808,513.06 | $10,789,364.38 |
| Project Funding - water transfer costs (GST exempt) | $22,957.00 | $22,957.00 |
| Total | $9,831,470.06 | $10,812,321.38 |
Approved projects
Map shows location of projects to nearest town. Project details are as provided by the applicant. Project funding in the documents below reflect the calculation that funding under the Water Efficiency Program is up to 1.75 times the current market value of the water rights to be transferred by participants in the program. Documents may not meet web accessibility requirements. Contact us for help.
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Cobdogla region (SA)
On-farm project (ID number 763514):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for wine grape growing
- 3.9 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $53,260.12 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 763514 (PDF 266 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 763514 (PDF 474 KB)
Glossop region (SA)
On-farm project (ID number 483049):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for wine grape and stone fruit growing
- 18.4 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $248,047.42 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 483049 (PDF 226 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 483049 (PDF 1.6 MB)
Langhorne Creek region (SA)
On-farm project (ID number 377235):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for wine grape growing
- 21.70 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $292,354.83 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 377235 (PDF 202 KB)
- See state efficiency measures assessment for proposal 377235 (PDF 1.2 MB)
On-farm project (ID number 555488):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for brussel sprouts growing
- 20.30 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $273,891.81 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 555488 (PDF 202 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 555488 (PDF 1.3 MB)
On-farm project (ID number 250766):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for wine grape growing
- 3.30 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $50,442.38 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 250766 (PDF 202 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 250766 (PDF 1.2 MB)
Loveday region (SA)
On-farm project (ID number 617470):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for wine grape growing
- 3.00 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $41,279.47 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 617470 (PDF 226 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 617470 (PDF 917 KB)
On-farm project (ID number 629771):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for wine grape growing
- 4.10 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $56,048.61 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 629771 (PDF 222 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 629771 (PDF 787 KB)
Loxton region (SA)
On-farm project (ID number 50965):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for citrus growing
- 3.40 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $46,650.07 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 50965 (PDF 226 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 50965 (PDF 1.4 MB)
On-farm project (ID number 793278):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for citrus growing
- 8.40 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $119,358.36 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 793278 (PDF 230 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 793278 (PDF 1.6 MB)
Loxton North region (SA)
On-farm project (ID number 91035):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for wine grape growing
- 11.4 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $163,359.52 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 91035 (PDF 203 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 91035 (PDF 475 KB)
On-farm project (ID number 314639):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for wine grape and almond growing
- 58.80 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $790,477.61 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 314639 (PDF 203 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 314639 (PDF 803 KB)
Lyrup region (SA)
On-farm project (ID number 593879):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for wine grape growing
- 3.1 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $39,495.42 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 593879 (PDF 188 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 593879 (PDF 416 KB)
On-farm project (ID number 34765):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for citrus plantings
- 104.30 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $1,619,114.19 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 34765 (PDF 416 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 34765 (PDF 1.2 MB)
On-farm project (ID number 929814):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for citrus, stonefruit and avocado plantings
- 24.3 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $343,393.57 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 929814 (PDF 202 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 929814 (PDF 1.4 MB)
On-farm project (ID number 386869):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for citrus plantings
- 29.9 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $404,293.65 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 386869 (PDF 225 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 386869 (PDF 1.6 MB)
On-farm project (ID number 753594):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for wine grape growing
- 3.0 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $41,279.47 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 753594 (PDF 226 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 753594 (PDF 1.4 MB)
Monash region (SA)
On-farm project (ID number 84383):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for wine grape growing
- 6.7 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $102,334.10 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 84383 (PDF 210 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 84383 (PDF 1.2 MB)
New Residence region (SA)
On-farm project (ID number 377618):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for wine grape growing and almonds
- 14.2 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $178,616.56 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 377618 (PDF 193 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 377618 (PDF 440 KB)
Overland Corner region (SA)
On-farm project (ID number 414923):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for wine grape and watermelon growing
- 29.6 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $399,162.35 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 414923 (PDF 226 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 414923 (PDF 1.5 MB)
Pyap (SA)
On-farm project (ID number 267387):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for citrus plantings and wine grape growing
- 154.30 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $2,247,744.25 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 267387 (PDF 165 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 267387 (PDF 402 KB)
Renmark region (SA)
On-farm project (ID number 78251):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for wine grape growing
- 99.90 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $1,427,889.21 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 78251 (PDF 226 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 78251 (PDF 1.3 MB)
On-farm project (ID number 325939):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for wine grape and citrus growing
- 16.3 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $230,671.61 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 325939 (PDF 226 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 325939 (PDF 802 KB)
On-farm project (ID number 622693):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for table grape and stone fruit growing
- 36.80 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $ 495,094.83 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 622693 (PDF 226 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 622693 (PDF 1.4 MB)
On-farm project (ID number 278878):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for almond growing
- 3.0 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $41,279.47 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 278878 (PDF 255 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 278878 (PDF 727 KB)
Renmark West region (SA)
On-farm project (ID number 643974):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for citrus and avocado growing
- 9.2 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $124,523.71 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 643974 (PDF 226 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 643974 (PDF 1.4 MB)
Waikerie region (SA)
On-farm project (ID number 492985):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for wine grape growing
- 50.50 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $754,933.28 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 492985 (PDF 205 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 492985 (PDF 1.0 MB)
Winkie region (SA)
On-farm project (ID number 953607):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for citrus plantings
- 5.0 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $71,318.71 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 953607 (PDF 250 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 953607 (PDF 400 KB)
Woods Point region (SA)
On-farm project (ID number 981448):
- Project involving irrigation upgrades for annual and perennial pasture (diary)
- 10.70 megalitres of water contracted to be recovered
- $156,006.80 (incl. GST) of project funding
- See Commonwealth assessment of socio-economic response of proposal 981448 (PDF 165 KB)
- See State efficiency measures assessment for proposal 981448 (PDF 444 KB)