Six new water infrastructure projects are set to reach 9,000 people in remote Indigenous communities across Australia, backed by $60.8 million in funding.
The projects were first signalled by Anthony Albanese at Garma Festival at the weekend, with one community each in Queensland and Western Australia, Galiwin'ku and Gove Peninsula in the Northern Territory and South Australia's Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands announced as new sites on Tuesday.
Projects will be co-funded by the federal, state and territory governments, a release from the office of Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt read.
Investment includes;
- $18 million for water supply improvement in Woorabinda, inland south-east of Rockhampton in Queensland.
- $14.3 million for network upgrade and water quality planning strategy at Galiwin'ku in East Arnhem Land.
- $13.7 for water supply improvement phase 2 in the Gove Peninsula in East Arnhem Land
- $6 million for the water security upgrade in Halls Creek in WA's Kimberley.
- $5.1 million for water supply revitilisation in APY Lands.
- Also in South Australia, $3.7 will go to securing critical human water needs for self-supplied remote First Nations communities.
The investments come through the National Water Grid Fund.
2024's Closing the Gap implementation plan identified: "More than 400 remote and regional communities lack access to good-quality drinking water across Australia".
"National drinking water health guidelines for bacteria and chemicals are exceeded in many First Nations communities. In addition, the seasonal pressures on remote First Nations communities' drinking water sources in hot and dry conditions has significant flow-on effects for economic and health outcomes," the report read.
Tuesday's release stated the amount of National Water Grid funding going towards projects in First Nations communities - more than 100 communities across all states and territories except Victoria and the ACT, has exceeded $191 million dollars.
Within that is 42 projects.
It includes $34.3 million in joint investment from the federal and NT government for enhanced water security and infrastructure in ten communities (the Better Bores for Communities program), which was announced in January.
In 2022, the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) determined a figure of at least $2.2 billion to bring nationwide water supplies up to an acceptable standard in their Closing the Water for People and Communities Gap report.
In April, WSAA warned a gap remains between the level of services provided to First Nations communities compared to other communities across the country, and "money is not going as far as it has previously".
With the latest funding announcement, the recently re-elected Government's previous $150 million commitment to provide safe and reliable water in First Nations communities had been 'surpassed', the release noted.
Speaking at Garma at the weekend, the Prime Minister said: "As long as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have loved and cared for this continent, they have known that water is life."
"Yet when we came to government in 2022, so many people in remote communities across Australia did not have access to safe, clean or reliable drinking water. We have been working side by side with locals to change this. 33 remote water projects are on track to bring clean and reliable water to 25,000 people."
Mr Albanese added water quality in Warburton and Jiaglong is approaching a level to where it could be used for dialysis treatment on Country, compared to being unfit to drink in recent years.
"This is transformative for communities and homelands," the Prime Minister said, "which is why we will be funding another 6 remote water projects, delivering for a further 9,000 people".
In addition, the newest projects have been earmarked to bring economic empowerment of First Nations people through employment and training opportunities, tourism initiatives and housing development, as well as support environmental protection and climate resilience.
"Everyone across Australia deserves access to clean and reliable water, regardless of where they live. Communities should be able to trust what's coming out of their taps. Better water means better health and better life outcomes," Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said.
"That's why we're continuing to invest in projects that will deliver critical water infrastructure projects in remote First Nations communities.
"We know living and practising culture on Country is important, and projects like these will ensure First Nations people can remain close to family and community.
"We will continue to work with our state and territory partners and First Nations organisations and representatives to Close the Gap on water security."
