LANDHOLDERS who have already completed water infrastructure projects in the expectation of a potential rebate will be able to access part of a $3.45-million pool from the state government.
The $50m federal On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme provided rebates on new water infrastructure costs up to $50,000 for landholders in drought-affected areas and was inundated by SA farmers after the state government lifted the rebate from 25 per cent to 50pc of the costs.
By June 17, 442 landholders had received the rebate, exhausting SA's $5m allocation, but many applicants were left short.
Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister David Basham said he had instructed PIRSA to "look for more buckets" of funding for those who had already completed projects.
"Our farmers are the backbone of the state's economy and agriculture will be a critical part of our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
"Many parts of South Australia are still suffering through drought and we are proud to continue to support those farmers doing it tough."
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Mr Basham said the scheme was incredibly popular and its expansion followed on from feedback in a series of recent drought forums.
An extra $2m will allow existing applications to be processed, with $1.45m for potential applicants who have already undertaken work and incurred costs, but not yet applied, to access a 30pc rebate, up to $30,000.
The state government has requested the federal government consider additional funding, at which point the rebate could return to 50pc.
Livestock SA president Joe Keynes said they had also been lobbying the federal government to try and bring back this project and support those who missed out last time.
"It is a really effective program that supports drought-affected farmers," he said.
"People going through the drought had reduced income and this was a way to be able to look at their infrastructure and get set up for drought and good times."
Mr Keynes said while the return at 30pc rather than 50pc was a little disappointing, it was also a positive that those who had invested, hoping to be part of the scheme, would be able to get some of those funds back.
"This ensures everyone gets a share of the available funds," he said.
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