Gnangara Horticulture Water Use Efficiency Grant

The Western Australian (WA) Government is providing funding for eligible commercial horticultural businesses for a suite of water use efficiency activities. This initiative will support horticultural groundwater users that are subject to the 10% reduction to abstraction from 2028 under the Gnangara groundwater allocation plan.

This funding delivered through the Gnangara Horticulture Water Use Efficiency Grant Program includes:

1. grants to implement water use efficiency infrastructure
2. grants to implement soil amelioration activities.

What do you get?

Irrespective of the activity you wish to apply for, please note that:

• you can only submit one application per business entity
• applicants can apply for grants against both activity categories (infrastructure and soil amelioration), but the maximum total grant amount cannot exceed $100,000
• approximately $1,190,000 is available under the program
• grower co-contribution requirements apply.

Who is this for?

• Commercial producers with a water licence for an established horticultural business who have been identified for a 10% groundwater abstraction reduction from 2028 under the Gnangara Groundwater Allocation Plan shown in the map

Grants to implement water use efficiency infrastructure

Up to $100,000 to install technology or infrastructure to improve water systems to increase water use efficiency.

Any of the following listed activities may be funded:

• modifications to irrigation systems that increase the distribution uniformity
• changing from sprinkler to drip irrigation
• soil moisture monitoring equipment and annual data hosting fees
• covered cropping options such as greenhouses, glasshouses, shade houses, windbreaks or permanent netting.

Note: if netting is to be self-installed, grant funding will only be provided for infrastructure materials (netting and netting supports). If netting is to be installed by an independent third-party contractor, grant funding will cover the cost of the supply and installation of the netting infrastructure.

The grant application must document all infrastructure items, including specifications.

Grants to implement soil amelioration activities

Up to $100,000 to implement soil amendments such as suitable quality clay or clay combined with compost to increase soil moisture holding capacity and soil biology.

The grant application must include a detailed description of the soil amelioration activities proposed, including site location and dimensions and itemisation of materials. Examples of soil amelioration activities that may be considered for funding include:

• addition of suitable clays to improve water retention capacity
• addition of suitable compost or a mixture of clay and compost
• other soil improvement additives such as biochar, red sand or bentonite.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, you need to demonstrate you met all of the following criteria:

• own, share farm or lease property that you use for horticultural production in the eligible area and identified for a 10% groundwater abstraction reduction from 2028 under the Gnangara Groundwater Allocation Plan
• conduct the majority of your primary production business in WA
• operate as a sole trader, partnership, trust or private company
• hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and are registered for GST
• be a commercial primary production business (as defined in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997).