Senator The Hon Murray Watt, Minister for the Environment and Water
Senator for NSW, The Hon Deborah O'Neill
New South Wales communities will share in $50 million of targeted support through the Sustainable Communities Program, to create jobs, stimulate growth, and strengthen long-term resilience in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Funded by the Albanese Government and delivered by the NSW Minns Government, this latest round brings the Albanese Government's investment under the program to $174.5 million. This includes a $14.5 million co-contribution towards SunRice's new manufacturing infrastructure announced this month in Leeton which will support over 200 direct and indirect jobs.
The 20 successful projects announced today under the Business and Industry Round are:
- $5 million - Carrathool Shire Council - Seal the final 14 kilometres of The Springs Road between Hillston and Rankins Springs to improve agricultural freight transport and workforce access.
- $4.15 million - Rice Breeding Australia Limited (Leeton Shire Council) - Establish facilities to develop and deliver water-efficient rice varieties, supporting the Australian rice industry's goal of reducing water use by 75%.
- $1.9 million - Deniliquin Livestock Quarantine Centre Pty Ltd (Edward River Council) - Upgrade Rivbeef's Deniliquin feedlot with improved pens and shade, a new feed mill and weighbridge, and solar power. The project will increase cattle-feeding and resting capacity by 10%.
- $4.59 million - Murrumbidgee Council - Redevelop Darlington Point Caravan and Tourism Park with 14 new elevated cabins, 47 caravan and recreational vehicle sites, and upgraded visitor facilities to improve flood resilience.
- $4.9 million - The Trustee for ALM Operating Trust & The Trustee for LCM Operating Trust (Edward River Council) - Yurunga Farms will replace its ageing dairy at Blighty with a modern facility, increasing annual milk production from 18.4 million to up to 32 million litres without increasing its water allocation.
- $3.4 million - BioAg Pty Ltd (Narrandera Shire Council) - Expand facilities in Narrandera with new manufacturing sheds and production lines to increase output of biological soil-health products that help farmers reduce reliance on synthetic fertilisers and chemicals.
- $3.75 million - Wentworth Shire Council - Upgrade water infrastructure to increase supply capacity and reliability across the Buronga-Gol Gol growth corridor and address barriers to economic growth.
- $2.5 million - Australian Juice Processing And Bottling Pty Ltd (Leeton Shire Council) - Install new citrus processing and cold-press oil extraction equipment at Grove Fruit Juice's Leeton facility to turn more regional fruit into higher-value juice and citrus oil.
- $2 million - Sun Valley Australia Pty Ltd (Berrigan Shire Council) - Accelerate completion of the final stage of a food manufacturing facility in Finley, increasing production capacity and adding an off-grid renewable energy system to support domestic and export growth.
- $3.8 million - RWW Group Pty Ltd (Leeton Shire Council) - Expand RWW Group's clothing and protective equipment manufacturing in Leeton with two new warehouses, upgraded equipment, solar power, rainwater collection and clothing recycling.
- $5 million - Euston Bowling & Recreation Club Ltd (Balranald Shire Council) - Deliver five new homes and 372 square metres of commercial space in Euston as the first stage of a larger development planned to provide 12 homes in total. The project will help attract and retain essential workers, such as doctors, by providing more local housing options.
- $2.6 million - Hay Shire Council - Establish a regional circular economy hub. The expanded facility will support renewable energy infrastructure delivery, create new economic opportunities and strengthen regional waste management, providing long-term benefits across the South West region.
- $2.45 million - FW & RB Crighton Rural Engineering Hay Pty Ltd (Hay Shire Council) - Crighton's Engineering will bring its two Hay depots together in a purpose-built facility with upgraded equipment and separate staff accommodation.
- $1.1 million - The Trustee for the AgField Development Fund Unit Trust (Murrumbidgee Council) - Deliver intersection upgrades and an internal access road to open 73 hectares of industrial land for development at Darlington Point's Sturt Highway Industrial Precinct.
- $950,000 - MON Natural Foods Pty Ltd (Berrigan Shire Council) - Install a production line at Barooga to expand mayonnaise and sauce manufacturing, replacing around four million jars of imported products each year with locally made alternatives.
- $911,000 - Fonte Pty Ltd (Griffith City Council) - Build a food manufacturing and visitor facility for Morella Grove at Yoogali, doubling annual production capacity to 60,000 litres and adding a tasting centre and demonstration olive grove.
- $600,000 - Collier & Miller Pty Ltd (Griffith City Council) - Collier & Miller will install an advanced laser cutting system at its Griffith facility to manufacture agricultural machinery, parts and engineering components more efficiently.
- $200,000 - Barham Avocados Pty Ltd (Murray River Council) - Replace 4.5 hectares of unproductive avocado trees with agave plants to test their use for energy and livestock feed.
- $176,000 - Quincey Jones Jelly Preserves Co. Pty Ltd (Murray River Council) - Upgrade the Moama food manufacturing facility with new cooking, processing, packaging and storage equipment to increase production capacity.
- $125,000 - DC Networx Pty Ltd (Leeton Shire Council) - Establish a training and demonstration space at DC NETWORX's Leeton factory for hands-on robotics training, including robotic welding, and business trials of automation.
Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt said the Sustainable Communities Program was intended to help communities adjust to the impacts of voluntary water buybacks, and a changing climate.
"These innovative projects will help local businesses to increase productivity, diversify their operations, stay competitive and use less water doing it," Minister Watt said.
"With our climate getting hotter and drier, it's more important than ever that we take steps now to ensure the future of the Murray-Darling system."
"The latest independent evaluation shows that our rivers and wetlands are better off thanks to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan - all while agricultural production in the region has continued to grow."
"However, we also know water recovery can have impacts and we aren't going to leave those communities without support."
New South Wales Senator Deborah O'Neill said the latest funding would deliver a range of projects that will super-charge the region and bolster local jobs.
"From new roads to robotics, fertiliser to food manufacturing, there's exciting work underway and the Albanese Government very pleased to help fund it."
Further rounds of funding will be made available ahead of the completion of the program.
To learn more about the Australian Government's Sustainable Communities Program, visit: www.dcceew.gov.au/water/policy/programs/open/sustainable-communities
