Irrigation Management Grant
on this page
Irrigation Management Grant
The Irrigation Management Grant was announced on 25 September 2007 to help irrigators in the Murray-Darling Basin manage reduced water allocations.
Note: The grant closed to new entrants on 31 March 2009. If you received a grant under the scheme, you must spend the funds by 31 December 2009.
[ return to top ]
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Irrigation Management Grant you had to:
- be at least 18 years old and living in Australia
- have a current Australian Business Number (ABN) that existed on 25 September 2007
- have a right or interest in the land used for the purposes of a farm enterprise, contribute a significant part of your labour and capital to the farm enterprise and derive a significant part of your income from the farm enterprise
- have been a farmer for 2 years prior to lodging your application
- have identified the activities for managing reduced water allocations
- meet an off-farm asset test.
You also had to be an irrigator, that is, you either had to:
- be an irrigator in or draw water from the Murray-Darling Basin as your sole source of irrigation
- demonstrate you have derived income from irrigation activities within the 3 years before you applied for a grant
- demonstrate you have incurred expenses for irrigation activities within the 3 years prior to the date of application
- demonstrate you would have derived an income from irrigation activities if water allocations were not significantly reduced, or
- hold an active license for irrigation entitlement.
Note: You must access your water from a regulated source and have been subjected to reduced water allocations payment rate of Murray-Darling Basin Irrigation Management Grant.
Grants of up to $20,000 were available.
Important: Keep a copy of your Centrelink letter telling you about your grant for tax purposes.
[ return to top ]
Spending your grant
The Irrigation Management Grant was available to fund eligible activities undertaken on farms between 1 July 2007 and 31 December 2009 to implement water management strategies to improve farm practices on farms with reduced water allocations.
Eligible activities include:
- costs associated with implementing water efficient crop options
- equipment replacement to maintain irrigation systems (including computer software, piping and pumps)
- fixed water charges
- laser levelling
- piping, troughs and associated activities for stock and domestic water
- pruning activities to minimise the impact of low water allocations
- reconfiguring irrigation systems
- sinking, extending or refurbishment of bores (and pumps).
Examples of ineligible activities include:
- accounting fees
- purchasing or leasing of vehicles
- purchasing or servicing of assets not directly involved in the operation of the farm enterprise
- purchasing water or fodder
- re-financing existing loans.
[ return to top ]
Finding out more
Online publications
Contact us
- message us
- phone the Drought Assistance line on 13 2316
- phone the Murray-Darling Basin line on Freecall™1800 050 015
- phone the free TTY service on Freecall™1800 810 586 if you have a hearing or speech impairment
- visit your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre or Agent
[ return to top ]
