To protect Australia’s freshwater supply, the Federal Government has inaugurated the new National Water Grid Authority (NWGA) worth $100 million.
The NWGA will be an independent statutory authority that will gather the world’s best scientists, water experts and local knowledge to assess the myriad water diversion and storage proposals, providing a scientific basis to the future decision making on water policy in Australia.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the National Water Grid Authority will deliver strategic planning and project management for water infrastructure across the country.
“Water is the lifeblood of our nation and we owe it to our regional producers and communities to deliver long-term, sustainable water infrastructure to help farmers recover and build resilience from drought.”
“We will work with industry, local and state governments and communities to ensure our support is targeted, useful and provides the incentive for regions to continue to grow and thrive,” he added.
Investing $100 million in the project would build on the $993.1 million already committed from the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund to finance the development of 21 water infrastructure projects worth more than $1.98 billion.
The National Water Grid Authority will be launched on the first of October 2019.
