The Allan Labor Government is keeping community spaces that families enjoy healthy and green with improved water recycling upgrades across the state.
Minister for Water Gayle Tierney today opened $24 million in Integrated Water Management Grants, available for projects that unlock the benefits of recycled water and stormwater for community and the environment.
The Integrated Water Management Grants are open to organisations including local government, Traditional Owner groups, water corporations, and catchment management authorities and close on 9 February 2026.
Grants are available for infrastructure projects including stormwater recovery, creating new wetlands for stormwater treatment, and recycled water treatment and upgrades that benefit the environment and reduce reliance on drinking water.
Funding is also available for researching, feasibility and planning activities that will pave the way for the future delivery of on-ground projects.
Metro and Regional streams are available, ensuring regional communities impacted by droughts have access to upgrades that preserve precious water supplies.
A third stream is dedicated to projects led by Traditional Owner groups, and a fourth stream will fund large-scale, time-critical projects that support sustainable urban development.
The Integrated Water Management Grants Program has invested $72.8 million in more than 170 collaborative projects across the state, attracting more than $166 million in co-contributions from partner organisations.
Projects that have received past funding through the program include a system to collect rainwater from the rooftops of buildings in Warrnambool's Albert Park sporting precinct, to add to the city's drinking water supplies.
Supported projects also include a 2.5km pipeline that delivers 150 million litres of recycled water each year from the Werribee Treatment Plant to Werribee Zoo for use in the elephant enclosure, hippo habitat, and irrigation.
The Labor Government's ongoing investment in sustainable water use contributes to Victoria reusing billions of litres of recycled water and stormwater each year, taking significant pressure off drinking water supplies.
For more information on the grants go to water.vic.gov.au/liveable/integrated-water-management-program.
As stated by Minister for Water Gayle Tierney
"We're looking to invest in planning and projects that will make every drop count - from greening recreational spaces and creating wetlands to providing irrigation for farmers."
"By expanding the use of recycled water and stormwater across Victoria, we're taking pressure off drinking water supplies and making our state more resilient to the impacts of climate change."
