A STATE Government pilot project in the Wheatbelt aims to turn run-off stormwater into a valuable asset for local towns.
Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman said the $2million project, funded through the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program, would implement schemes to capture, store and reuse stormwater in selected towns.
“The stormwater reuse pilot project will allow these selected towns to implement well-designed run-off harvesting systems for use on their local amenities, such as parks and sports ovals,”
Mr Redman said.
“Many rural communities are faced with an annual dilemma where they can’t afford high-cost scheme water for irrigation in summer, but neither can they allow the grass on their well-utilised and highly valued community sportsgrounds to die.”
Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said stormwater capture and reuse would supplement scheme water use to maintain sportsgrounds.
“Community sporting clubs will no longer be purely dependent on scheme water to maintain the grounds, which are a significant source of local identity and pride,” Mr Grylls said.
The project will be delivered by the Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Food.
The two-year pilot project will focus on four or five priority towns.
The selection of towns will be based on specific criteria, including an existing stormwater management plan.
