South Australia has established a Community Wastewater Innovation Fund for innovative community wastewater projects, and councils are now invited to apply for funding.
The Community Wastewater Innovation Fund has been established by the CWMS Management Committee and facilitated by LGA South Australia, with funding from the South Australian Government providing eligible organisations up to $225,000 to help advance their Community Wastewater Management System initiatives.
All South Australian councils, regional local government associations, education institutions and universities, local government professional bodies, and organisations interested in collaborating with local government can apply for funding.
To be eligible for funding, nominated projects must deliver clear outcomes and address CWMS needs of local councils.
The 2023-24 funding round for the Community Wastewater Innovation Fund is open from 21 June until 26 July 2024.
South Australian Minister for Local Government, Joe Szakacs, said that the South Australian Government is proud to fund this new initiative, which will drive innovation in wastewater management systems right across the state and help grow communities.
“This fund will support the vital installation of CWMS in communities across the state and promote further growth in our regions,” Minister Szakacs said.
“We greatly value the partnership we have with LGASA in delivering CWMS for South Australian communities and we look forward to seeing the creative projects put forward for the Community Wastewater Innovation Fund.”
LGASA President, Mayor Dean Johnson, said that advancing CWMS projects in regional areas is critical not just for existing residents, but for encouraging and facilitating further housing growth across the state and attracting new people to regional areas.
“Community Wastewater Management Systems may not sound glamourous, but they are essential pieces of infrastructure that treat effluent in our regions – you would certainly notice if your neighbourhood didn’t have one,” Mayor Johnson said.
“An example being earlier this year, more than 400 new wastewater connections for homes in Fisherman Bay on the Yorke Peninsula were created, delivering long-term certainty for property owners, alleviating community concerns over health and environmental impacts caused by ageing septic tanks, and showing how important CWMS is to country towns.
“The new Community Wastewater Innovation Fund seeks to incentivise eligible organisations who are keen to work with local councils on creative ways to deliver more positive CWMS outcomes for regional communities.
“Through these collaborations – and with support from our valued State Government partners to fund new, cutting-edge ideas – we can continue supporting our regional communities to ensure they keep growing and thriving.”
Featured image: LGASA CEO, Clinton Jury (left) with CWMS Committee Chair and LGA Board Member, Mayor Leon Stephens at the 2024 SA CWMS Conference in Mount Barker on Friday, 21 June.
