Water-saving support extended to 19 communities between Walpole to Esperance
- Great Southern region experiencing unprecedented dry conditions due to climate change
- Waterwise offers extended to 19 communities across Great Southern region
- Albany and Esperance included in 2020-21 Waterwise Towns Program
- 36 million litres of water saved in the region in 2019-20
Water Minister Dave Kelly today announced that the Waterwise Towns Program would be extended to provide water-saving support to a further 17 local communities, including Albany, Katanning, Narrogin, Ravensthorpe and Esperance.
Due to the impacts of climate change, the Great Southern agricultural region is experiencing unprecedented dry conditions following two years of well below average annual rainfall.
While many parts of the Great Southern have recently experienced a good rainfall event, the Water Corporation still needs to continue to cart drinking water to a total of 11 towns across this part of the State.
Western Australia's water supplies are precious, which is why this year the McGowan Government is significantly increasing the number of communities in the Great Southern region having access to water-saving offers from two in 2019-20 to 19 as part of the Water Corporation's 2020-21 Waterwise Towns Program.
The program, which last year saved 36 million litres of water in the Great Southern, will again be available in Denmark and Walpole through the popular Rainwater Rewards rebate. The Rainwater Rewards rebate incentivises the purchase and plumbing in of rainwater tanks.
Offers and programs under the Waterwise Towns Program are designed to make it easier for regional households to reduce water consumption.
Depending on location, offers can include Rainwater Rewards, plumbing checks, comparative water-use letters and the Water Corporation's free Showerhead Swap program.
Showerhead Swap allows residents in participating communities to replace old, inefficient showerheads with waterwise alternatives. Last year, nearly 900 households across regional WA exchanged 1,274 showerheads, helping to save close to 18 million litres of water.
To further assist the community with saving water, the Leak Assist Program (LAP) has now also been extended to include regional WA. The LAP enables eligible customers to claim a rebate of $100 when they engage a licensed plumber to repair a leak.
Localised offers under the 2020-21 Waterwise Towns Program are available to participating communities across regional WA from October 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021.
Since 2013-14, the State-wide program has saved an estimated 1.27 billion litres of precious water - equivalent to 564 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
For more details and to view local offers, visit http://www.watercorporation.com.au/waterwiseoffers
Comments attributed to Water Minister Dave Kelly:
"In areas of southern WA, the impacts of climate change are being experienced more than just about any region in Australia. As a result, it is vital we support and encourage waterwise lifestyle habits.
"The Waterwise Towns Program is an incredibly effective way the McGowan Government, through the Water Corporation, is helping regional Western Australians conserve our most precious resource.
"Every drop of water is precious, particularly as we meet the challenges posed by climate change."
Comments attributed to Albany MLA Peter Watson:
"It's fantastic to see the Waterwise Towns Program extended across the Great Southern region making it easier and cheaper for households to conserve our most precious resource.
"I'd like to encourage residents in participating Great Southern towns to take advantage of available offers and embrace a waterwise lifestyle."
Minister's office - 6552 6100
Regional participants in the 2020-21 Waterwise Towns Program
| Location | Offers |
| Albany | Showerhead Swap, comparative water-use letters |
| Denmark | Rainwater Rewards |
| Esperance | Showerhead Swap, plumbing check, comparative water-use letters |
| Ravensthorpe | Showerhead Swap |
| Hopetoun | Showerhead Swap |
| Salmon Gums | Showerhead Swap |
| Grass Patch | Showerhead Swap |
| Walpole | Showerhead Swap, Rainwater Rewards |
| Bremer Bay | Showerhead Swap, plumbing check |
| Katanning | Showerhead Swap, comparative water-use letters |
| Hyden | Showerhead Swap |
| Narrogin | Showerhead Swap, comparative water-use letters |
| Wagin | Showerhead Swap, comparative water-use letters |
| Borden | Showerhead Swap |
| Ongerup | Showerhead Swap |
| Jerramungup | Showerhead Swap |
| Rocky Gully | Plumbing check |
| Varley | Plumbing check |
| Munglinup | Showerhead Swap |