East Gippsland Shire Council's partnership with Adventist Development Relief Agency(ADRA) will provide water to 400 rural families who rely on rainwater for their household water supply.
While some landholders have benefited from some good rain in recent months and are on the journey to recovery from the drought, others have missed out and continue to be subject to drier conditions.
ADRA will deliver the Drought Support Household Water Program to support rural landowners who are not on reticulated water to access a subsidised 10,000L tank of water for their primary household use.
Mayor Cr Mendy Urie said East Gippsland has been experiencing a drought followed by below average rainfall since 2016.
"It is important for all levels of government to play a role in providing assistance and support measures for our rural families. The Drought Support Household Water Program is open now for eligible rural landowners in East Gippsland Shire who have limited or no water in their primary tanks and are not on reticulated water," Cr Urie said.
"Council has allocated funding to ADRA to arrange the water cartage as that cost was identified as a major expense for drought affected families.
"This initiative will remove a significant financial burden from the rural community and allow families access to water that is safe for human consumption."
The program will provide rural residents hit hardest by drought one delivery of10,000L household water without paying for cartage. There is a cost of $50 for the water itself.
"Not only are some families struggling to water their stock, they have the added issue of paying for water cartage for their households," Cr Urie said.
ADRA Bairnsdale is a fully accredited non-government organisation that conducts humanitarian programs in Australia and internationally. ADRA is the relief and development arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Worldwide and has playing an important part in responding to the crises of drought, bushfires and COVID-19 within the shire.
