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What is the fund?

The fund will implement high quality water supply and effi cient domestic wastewater management services in small towns and communities across Victoria.

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What will the fund do?

The fund aims to minimise existing public health and environmental issues linked to water supply and domestic wastewater management in small towns.

Councils, water corporations, community and the government will work together to improve drinking water quality and upgrade, monitor and maintain septic tanks.

This will be achieved by councils and water corporations submitting projects for financial support.

The fund’s managers will select projects that best meet criteria to provide water and wastewater services to small towns.

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Will this fund be different to the previous Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program?

Yes. The Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program focused on providing water supply and sewerage solutions to priority towns with urgent public health and environmental issues.

The Small Town Water Quality Fund is seeking voluntary applications from water corporations and local government to implement water and wastewater solutions for small towns across Victoria.

A total of 52 water supply and sewerage projects are being funded under the predecessor program,the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program.

The Victorian Government allocated funding of $20 million under the 2007/2008 State Budget to the Small Town Water Quality Fund.

This fund will help develop infrastructure in small towns across the State. Solutions will be proportional to the scale of existing issues delivered in a sensible and sustainable approach.

Water corporations and rural councils are invited to submit a Registration of Interest and a business case to DSE for proposed projects on behalf of their community.

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What are Domestic Wastewater Management Plans?

These are plans that need to be formulated by local councils under the State Environment Protection Policy ‘Waters of Victoria 2003’.

These plans contain two main components:

• Strategic component - this outlines broad goals of the plan, sets out context, discusses management approaches and timelines and assesses current wastewater situations in each township
• Action plan – this contains step-by-step actions required to meet the overall goals

How much funding will be available?

Up to $1 million will be available on a 1:1 basis.

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How many rounds of funding are offered?

There will be three rounds of funding available for individual applications:

Round 1
Opening date: Friday 5 September 2008
Closing date: Friday 7 November 2008

Round 2
Will be advertised in the first half of 2009

Round 3
To be advertised in 2010

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What type of projects will be funded?

Eligible Project Categories are on a township basis for:

• Water supply security improvements
• Water supply quality improvements
• New water services
• Septic tank upgrades
• Small town wastewater solutions.

What criteria will be considered in approving projects for funding?

• Funds are to be used for the implementation phase.
• All proposals are expected to have a developed business case.
• Funds will provide 1:1 matching funding up to $1 million per project
• Funds are open to water corporations and local Government in rural areas
• Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria:
  1. Results in service improvement
  2. Provides value for money investment
  3. Provides public and environmental health protection

What is the time frame for the completion of a project?

All projects must be completed by March 2012.

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Who can apply for funding in the first round?

Water corporations and rural councils are invited to submit a registration of interest for proposed projects, on behalf of their small town community members.

Will there be other rounds?

There will be at least two more rounds – 2009 and 2010.

Will there be information sessions?

Yes. Details will be made available early October 2008.

Further information