On-farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme

We are extending and expanding the popular On-farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme to 30 June 2024. This extension includes support for farmers impacted by natural disasters to utilise the scheme.

More information on how to apply coming soon.

How it works

Since its launch in 2018, the scheme has helped Australian farm businesses to build resilience and cope with the impacts of climate change.

The scheme provides rebates to farm businesses to purchase and install critical on-farm water infrastructure.

If eligible, primary producers or horticulture farmers can claim up to 25% of the cost of approved critical infrastructure, up to a maximum total rebate of $25,000.

Your state or territory will match the Australian Government’s contribution dollar for dollar.

Following the 2022-23 October Budget, the scheme will now close on 30 June 2024 or when funding is fully allocated.

We committed $100 million to this popular scheme. To date, $65.7 million in Australian Government funding has been disbursed through 12,745 rebates to farmers.

On-farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme infographic

Title: On-farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme

As of 30 June 2022, more than 12,000 rebates have been provided to improve drought resilience valued at $65 million. Amount of funding allocated by activity type:

pipes: $8.9 million
tanks: $12.1 million
pumps: $7.6 million
bores $15.9 million
dam desilting $17 million.
other (e.g., fittings and freight): $4.7 million.

Amount of funding allocated by State:

WA: $7.6 million
NT: $2.6 million
SA: $7.7 million
QLD: 11.8 million
NSW: 30.8 million
ACT: $0.2 million
VIC: $4.8 million
TAS: $0.3 million.

Who can apply

You must be:

a primary producer or horticulture farmer (as defined by your state or territory)
a property owner, share farmer or lease holder
in an area defined by your state or territory as drought affected or impacted by natural disasters
in the grazing or horticulture industries.

Eligible activities

The purchase and installation of new water-related infrastructure must be:

for your own grazing livestock or permanent plantings (rebates do not apply to agisted stock)
purchased and installed for an animal welfare or permanent planting need and to improve your drought resilience or water use efficiency and flexibility.

The repair or replacement of damaged water-related infrastructure applies to:

damage from natural disasters (as defined by your state or territory)
applications that do not include funds from insurance and other grants as part of the 75% contribution required of applicants.

For primary producers

Eligible expenses for primary producers are:

buying and installing, repairing or replacing:
- pipes
- water storage devices such as tanks and troughs associated with stock watering
- water pumps and associated electronic systems to manage water delivery
desilting dams
drilling new stock water bores and associated power supply such as generators.

New water infrastructure to support livestock watering must be purchased after 30 June 2018 or, in the case of damaged infrastructure, after 31 December 2021.

For horticulture farmers

Eligible expenses for horticulture farmers are:

desilting dams
drilling new groundwater bores and associated power supply such as generators.

Water infrastructure to support permanent plantings must be purchased after 30 June 2019.

Benefits

Benefits of the scheme include reducing the impact of drought and natural disasters strengthening farms to:

increase flexibility in land management
increase productivity
protect high value assets
mitigate the effects of degradation of natural watering points
address animal welfare and permanent planting needs.

How to access your rebate

State and territory governments administer and deliver the rebates and can provide information on eligibility and access to the scheme.