Emergency Water Planning in Western Australia

The latest in a series of emergency water response plans for dryland farming communities by the Western Australian Department of Water has been completed for Lake Grace Shire. The plans are part of ongoing work by the department to ensure the state's dryland farming communities are prepared for extended periods of low rainfall conditions and serious water deficiency in dryland agricultural areas.

Manager Rural Water Planning David Hillier said Emergency Farmland Water Response Plans such as that developed for Lake Grace provide landholders with a step by step process to follow when accessing emergency water supplies:

Sustained periods of low rainfall and limited run-off will lead to severe challenges for even the best on farm water managers. Consequently alternative water supplies must be planned for to assist land holders when his happens.

The department's programs encourage farmers to participate in effective planning to minimise the economic and social impact of water shortages on farming businesses.

Landholders are encouraged through the rural water schemes offered by the Department to participate in effective water supply planning, to manage water supplies more effectively and to optimise on-farm water sources. Our work continues to assist farmers improve on-farm water supplies, as well as ensuring that reliable sources of emergency farmland water are available to dryland farmers who find it necessary to travel outside the farm gate to collect water, principally for livestock, when on-farm supplies fail.

Current schemes managed by the department provide planning rebates up to $500 and rebates for on-farm water supply improvement work up to a maximum of $15,000 per commercial farming business. Plans have also been provided for the adjoining shires of Kulin, Kent and Ravensthorpe.

Download the Lake Grace Emergency Water Response Plan

Emergency Farmland Water Response Plans

Emergency farmland water response plans provide a six step process for farmers to follow in the event that water is sought from off-farm sources and outline the requirements leading to a declaration under the government's "Water Deficiency Declaration" policy.

A declaration of 'water deficiency' is a government response to safeguard the commercial interests of farmers during very dry periods, when five or more farmers within a 20 km radius require water from an off-farm source and have to travel an unreasonable distance. A declaration requires the government to provide water supplies for livestock purposes within 40 km of their farm.

The process leading to a declaration of 'water deficiency' involves a local government making a formal request to the Department of Water who then, after consulting with the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Rural Water Advisory Committee, make a recommendation to the Minister for Water.

A copy of the "Water Deficiency Declaration Guidelines" is available from the Department of Water.