On this page

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.

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 improve wastewater management.

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

A Technical Assessment Panel will recommend projects that best meet criteria to provide water and wastewater services to small towns.

Back to Top

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 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. Funded projects will be proportional to the scale of existing issues and provide sustainable solutions.

Water corporations and rural councils are invited to submit a Registration of Interest (including a Business Case) to DSE for proposed projects on behalf of their community.

What are Domestic Wastewater Management Plans?

Plans developed by local councils under the State Environment Protection Policy 'Waters of Victoria' 2003.

The 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.

Back to Top

How many rounds of funding are offered?

The fund allowed for three rounds of applications:

Round 1
is now closed.

The following eight water supply and wastewater projects were funded under this round:

• Walwa sewerage scheme
• Bemm River sewerage scheme
• Avoca desalination plant
• Eskdale water supply scheme
• Apsley wastewater improvement project
• Goroke wastewater improvement project
• Harrow wastewater improvement project and
• Snake Valley sewerage project
  

Round 2
Opening date: Friday, 13 November 2009.
Closing date: Thursday, 17 December 2009.

Round 3
To be advertised in 2010.

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 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 within three years of signing the funding deed.

Who can apply for funding in the second 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 one more round in 2010.

Will there be information sessions?

Yes.  There is provision for information sessions, if requested, in regional centres between 16th and 27th November, 2009.  Please contact your Regional Manager – Catchment and Water, to register your interest:

Murray McIntyre, Manager – Catchment & Water Port Phillip: (03) 9296 4524
Ian Hastings, Manager – Catchment & Water South West: (03) 5336 6876
Daniel Mainville, Manager – Catchment & Water Gippsland: (03) 5172 2188
Robert Steel, Manager - Catchment & Water North East: (03) 5761 1542
Robert Steel, Manager - Catchment & Water North Central: (03) 5761 1542
John Cook, Manager – Catchment & Water Sunraysia: (03) 5051 4302

Further information

For further information contact:

Vivian Amenta
Project Officer
Catchment and Water Services
(03) 9742 0476
vivian.c.amenta@dse.vic.gov.au

Max Coster
Project Officer
Catchment and Water Services
(03) 9742 0452
max.coster@dse.vic.gov.au