Proposed projects for Water Efficiency Program

The Water Efficiency Program is now closed for any further applications. Applications received before 3 March 2021 have been assessed under the guidelines and criteria for the Water Efficiency Program.

All applications were finalised by 4 August 2021.

The Water Efficiency Program provided funding:

• for eligible water rights holders in the Murray-Darling Basin
• to transfer water to the Commonwealth under a contract to do efficiency works to achieve water savings.

The Australian Government worked with Basin states and other stakeholders to consider each project proposal.

Review of project proposals

Each proposed project was subject to a period of public comment as required by the Murray–Darling Basin Ministerial Council’s socio-economic test.

Projects open for public comment were already assessed by the relevant Basin state government. Comments received were provided to the relevant Basin state government to confirm their original decision to support the proposal. The process for the assessment of applications included:

• The department engaged Delivery Partners whose role was to generate project applications for consideration.
• Delivery Partners proposed projects to the department as an expression of interest.
• The department undertook an initial eligibility assessment.
• The department referred these to the relevant state for its assessment under the Murray–Darling Basin Ministerial Council’s socio-economic test.
• States undertook the socio-economic assessment and reported back to the department on its findings.
• The department undertook a period of on-line consultation and then referred to the states for response.
• The department received this feedback and assessed the application according to the WEP program criteria.
• Once assessed, eligible applications proceeded to contracting.

Water Efficiency Program approved projects can be found at https://www.agriculture.gov.au/water/mdb/programs/basin-wide/water-efficiency/approved-projects