The Emergency Water Supply in Remote Areas Project
Delivered emergency water security to communities throughout the council area. The project comprised the installation of water storage tanks, connected to bores and solar powered pumps for use during emergencies and in fire prevention activities. Each tank and accompanying bore was strategically placed in locations allowing ease of access for emergency services (CFS and SES), farm fire-fighter units and/or general works crews.
The project was a collaboration between Council, farmers and local emergency services volunteers. Over the long term it will improve fire appliance refill and response times, thereby reducing the threat of rapidly spreading grassfires and bushfires to these remote communities.
- Employed local and regional contractors in relevant trades
- Short and long term benefits for farmers by reducing the financial impacts of emergency response; i.e. time lost and costs incurred by water carting in an emergency
- Long term social benefits for the community; increased protection for community assets and local businesses
- Short-term economic benefits of contractor funds circulating within the community; i.e. accommodation for works crews
- Long term indirect economic benefits resulting from water availability; i.e. proximity to water supply enables additional works on remote roads (re-sheeting etc.) resulting in increased spend from Council and State Government.
- Long term benefits in the retention of facilities and/or local businesses (i.e. protection for assets and infrastructure at increased risk to fire due to remoteness)
| Emergency Water for Remote Communities | 2018/19 |
|---|---|
| Grant Approved / Income ($) | 191,186 |
| Actual Expenditure ($) - 30 June 2019 | 198,986 |
| Variance to budget | (7,800) |