In January 2024, the Australian Government announced the Resilient Rivers Water Infrastructure Program, following the successful passage of the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023.
The Australian Government’s Resilient Rivers Water Infrastructure Program builds on and replaces the former Off-farm Efficiency Program and supports the delivery of the 450 GL of water recovery target under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
The program aims to provide Murray-Darling Basin state governments with a more flexible investment approach than previous efficiency measures programs.
The NSW Government will continue to work with project proponents to bring forward applications for efficiency measure projects to meet the Australian Government’s new program requirements.
About the program
The new program is a $494 million initiative over four years to fund projects improving and modernising water delivery infrastructure and assisting to recover water for the environment.
Projects funded under the program will improve the efficiency of water delivery infrastructure on-property/on-farm as well as off-farm, including in urban, industrial and mining settings. Water saving will then be used to increase the volume of water available for environmental purposes by up to 450 GL a year.
The program aims to:
- increase water recovery by improving water use, increasing the volume of Murray–Darling Basin water resources available for environmental use
- invest in infrastructure providing longer-term benefits and helping to recover water for the environment
- support climate-resilient primary production over the long-term.
There are four streams of funding available under the new program. Full projects can be funded under streams A, B and C and feasibility projects under stream D. Funding will be provided to the NSW Government via a Federation Funding Agreement and will be used to fund successful projects, with the NSW Government then entering a ‘back-to-back’ funding agreement with grantees.
All funding applications must be made by the state governments according to the Australian Government’s program guidelines.
The NSW Government is looking to work with eligible industry applicants to identify existing and new efficiency project opportunities. Eligible projects include those involving works to irrigation networks, stock and domestic systems as well as urban, industrial and mining systems. We will continue to apply socio-economic considerations to ensure these projects support regional economies and provide opportunities for community feedback.
Funding
Applications for full single projects under streams A, B and C are open and will be assessed when received. Applications will be accepted by the Australian Government until 28 March 2025, noting up to two months is required for the NSW Government to progress the applications.
Applications for project startup/feasibility projects under stream D are open and will be assessed when received. No applications will be accepted by the Australian Government after 30 August 2024, noting up to six weeks is required for the NSW Government to progress feasibility applications. Successful applications under Stream D are required to be finalised by 28 March 2025.
To receive a copy of the program guidelines for specific streams contact us at winsw.programs@dpie.nsw.gov.au or view the relevant program guidelines.
Who is eligible for funding under the program?
The program is open to individuals and entities in the irrigation, agricultural, urban, industrial and mining sectors across the Murray Darling Basin for projects achieving water efficiencies and returning water to the environment.
Visit the Australian Government’s Resilient River Water Infrastructure Program website for more information.
What types of projects are eligible for funding?
The program has four streams including:
| Stream | Examples |
|---|---|
| Stream A - Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Modernisation | Irrigation networks: Installing new, or upgrading existing, irrigation infrastructure and technology in water delivery networks for the purpose of supplying water to irrigators; water delivery upgrades (for private diverters not connected to a network) and installing new, or upgrading existing, irrigation infrastructure and technology for water delivery. |
| Stream B - Water Use Efficiency | On-farm: Installing new, or upgrading existing, irrigation infrastructure and technology on irrigation properties for the purpose of agriculture. Stock and domestic: Improving stock and domestic water supply on one or more properties for the purpose of watering stock and supplying water for human use. Water substitution (domestic or small scale): Conducting local or property-scale water savings activities enabling an alternative water source to be accessed, while returning a water entitlement to the Commonwealth (e.g., replacing surface water sources with local desalination or sustainable groundwater supply). |
| Stream C - Targeted Efficiency Measures | Urban: Constructing, replacing, upgrading, installing, improving or refurbishing urban water supply arrangements, including reducing leakage for the purpose of urban water supply. Industrial or mining: Constructing, replacing, upgrading, installing, improving or refurbishing industrial water uses, including reducing leakage, for the purpose of using water for producing goods and services. Mining: Constructing, replacing, upgrading, installing, improving or refurbishing industrial water uses, including reducing leakage, for the purpose of using water for producing goods and services. Water substitution (larger scale): Conducting water savings activities enabling an alternative water source to be accessed, while returning a water entitlement to the Commonwealth (e.g., replacing surface water sources with local desalination or sustainable groundwater supply). The scale would be at town, community or including multiple sites. |
| Stream D – Water Recovery Project Start-Up | Funding for Basin States to undertake feasibility studies or to undertake project preliminaries via ‘seed funding’. This could be for small and medium sized proposals across any stream. |
Feasibility funding is available to help identify early project opportunities to reduce water losses and increase water available for the environment in the Murray-Darling Basin. This can include investigations into improving infrastructure, confirming water losses and savings, informing the potential costs of construction or supporting formal discussions with stakeholders.
All full projects funded under the program must create water efficiency savings and return a percentage of those savings via eligible water entitlements to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder.
For further details on eligible activities along with detailed examples review the program guidelines.
Are on-farm projects eligible for funding?
Yes, on farm projects are eligible to apply under stream B: Water Use Efficiency. See the program guidelines for detailed examples of eligible activities under this category.
How we can help
The NSW Government will work with applicants to develop water efficiency concepts into project proposals for funding consideration by the Australian Government. This may range from expert advice and coordination, through to on-ground support with application development and management of projects.
All full project applications will require a ‘letter of support’ from the NSW Government to accompany funding applications to the Australian Government. The NSW Government will convene an expert panel to evaluate applications.
The NSW Government is keen to hear from potential applicants. Email us at: winsw.programs@dpie.nsw.gov.au
About the application process
The application process for full projects requires the NSW Government to apply the Murray Darling Basin socio-economic test, seek community comment and then provide this information to the Australian Government as part of the grant funding submission. This includes detailing the NSW Government’s support for the project.
The key elements of the socio-economic test are:
- the expected social, economic, environmental and cultural outcomes
- impacts on local community, region or state
- future viability of proponent businesses and irrigation districts
- benefits to regional economies in the short term (during project delivery) and long term (i.e., sustainable employment)
- impacts on water market, water prices and validity of water savings
- engagement with community and industry leaders
- improvements to business and community resilience to climate variability and drought.
The NSW Government has established an expert panel to review proposals against the criteria for full projects . The panel includes water experts from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, experts in socio-economic analysis from within, and external to, the NSW Government, as well as an independent probity advisor.
For every full project proposal, the NSW Government will:
- complete a review of the project proposal, with consideration of community feedback
- apply the socio-economic test, using the socio-economic criteria
- provide a statement of reasons detailing how a proposal meets the socio-economic test.
Feasibility projects are assessed differently, as they don’t need to meet the socio-economic test. This test and the public comment process will be applied if/when a project proceeds to a full project proposal.
The feasibility criteria consider the ‘case for change’ and ‘deliverability’.
Find out more about the feasibility criteria PDF, 274.44 KB
NSW Government-supported applications will be submitted to the Australian Government. The outcomes of the NSW Government’s review will form part of the application. The Australian Government will then assess the application and make a recommendation to the Australian Minister for the Environment and Water on whether to provide funding for the project.
To commence an application, applicants are encouraged to contact the NSW Government to discuss the proposal and the support required.
Have your say
Proponents are expected to have previously completed comprehensive community engagement as part of project development.
The 'Have your say' process is open to all individuals and organisations with an interest in the proposed project. The Water Group will publish the socio-economic information for each full project application on this webpage and will provide an opportunity for comment through either a feedback form or submission function. Submissions will be shared with the project proponent and may be posted publicly on this page.
A report will be prepared to summarise the feedback received. This report will be provided to the expert panel as part of the NSW Government’s review process and may also be made publicly available on the department’s website.
Process flowchart
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Full project application development
The NSW Government works with project proponents to develop project applications. Development timeframes vary depending on project complexity and applicants initial draft application.
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Public comment
The NSW Government publishes socio-economic project response to selection criteria on the program’s webpage as part of a two-week public consultation process. The NSW Government also prepares a What We Heard report summarising public comments about the project.
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Expert panel
The expert panel reviews the project proposals against socio-economic criteria.
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Statement of reasons
The NSW Government develops a statement of reasons document to be endorsed by the expert panel. This statement of reasons is then provided to the program’s steering committee.
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Program steering committee
The program’s steering committee approves the application to be submitted to the Australian Government for assessment and a funding decision.
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Application lodgement
The NSW Government lodges the application with the Australian Government.
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Australian Government assessment
The Australian Government assess the application and makes a funding recommendation to the Australian Minister for the Environment and Water.
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Funding agreements
If a project is approved for funding, funding agreements are developed and executed between the Australian and NSW Governments and subsequently between the NSW Government and the applicant. Upon execution of all agreements the project can begin.
Summary of project proposals
Project proposals under the Resilient Rivers Water Infrastructure Program
| Project | Murrumbidgee Irrigation Urban Channels Pipeline Project |
|---|---|
| Community feedback | Submissions closed on Friday 5 May 2023 |
| Status | In review (transitioned from the former Off-farm Efficiency Program) |
| Project documents | Murrumbidgee Irrigation Urban Channels Pipeline Project proposal PDF, 1801.36 KB |
| Project | Griffith Golf Club Irrigation System Refurbishment |
|---|---|
| Community feedback | Submissions closed on Friday 5 May 2023 |
| Status | In review (transitioned from the former Off-farm Efficiency Program) |
| Project documents | Griffith Golf Club Irrigation System Refurbishment project proposal PDF, 844.23 KB |
| Project | Boxyards Road Water Stock and Domestic Pipeline |
|---|---|
| Community feedback | Submissions closed on Monday 27 November 2023 |
| Status | In review (transitioned from the former Off-farm Efficiency Program) |
| Project documents | Response to socio economic criteria for Boxyards Road Water Stock and Domestic Pipeline PDF, 941.15 KB |
| Project | Elwah Pumpers Scheme Modernisation |
|---|---|
| Community feedback | Submissions closed on Monday 27 November 2023 |
| Status | In review (transitioned from the former Off-farm Efficiency Program) |
| Project documents | Response to socio economic criteria for Elwah Pumpers Scheme Modernisation PDF, 1175.13 KB |
Project proposals under the former Off-farm Efficiency Program
The former Off-farm Efficiency Program has been discontinued and replaced by the Resilient Rivers Water Infrastructure Program. The following projects were proposed under the program.
| Project | Nap Nap Station water efficiency project |
|---|---|
| Community feedback | Submissions closed on Monday 24 May 2022 |
| Status | Complete |
| Project documents | Nap Nap Station water efficiency project proposal PDF, 788.94 KB |
| NSW Government documents |
| Project | Murrumbidgee Irrigation automation finalisation |
|---|---|
| Community feedback | Submissions closed on Sunday 3 October 2021 |
| Status | Australian Government funding approved on 17 January 2022 |
| Project documents | Proposal of Murrumbidgee Irrigation automation finalisation PDF, 1386.35 KB |
| Community submissions | |
| NSW Government documents |
Feasibility project proposals under the former Off-farm Efficiency Program
| Project | West Corurgan Private Irrigation District: Modernisation of the West Corurgan Private Irrigation District feasibility project |
|---|---|
| Status | Complete |
| NSW Government documents | Statement of reasons PDF, 170.38 KB |
| Project | Gunbar, Hay, Booligal, Carrathool & Goolgowi (Water Group feasibility project) |
|---|---|
| Status | Complete |
| Project documents | Statement of reasons PDF, 155.39 KB |
| Project | Trangie-Nevertire Co-Op Ltd - Modernisation of the TARC Syphon Feasibility Project |
|---|---|
| Status | Complete |
| Project documents | Statement of reasons PDF, 369.06 KB |
Grants and funding finder
View a map of the locations and details of grants and funding projects administered by the Water Group.
To view the map at full screen, click on the enlarge map icon top right of the map.
Case studies
Read about the application process and NSW Government’s role in supporting proponents to develop applications under the former Off-farm Efficiency Program.
Contact us
If you have questions or want to know more about submitting an application, email us at winsw.programs@dpie.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 081 047.