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On February 13, 2023, the Australian Government pledged $150 million within the National Water Grid Fund to support water infrastructure for First Nations and ensure a safe water supply for remote and regional Indigenous communities. This commitment marks a new initiative within the Commonwealth Closing the Gap Implementation Plan 2023.
Administered by the National Water Grid Authority (NWGA) in the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water, the National Water Grid Fund aims to enhance water access and security. The funding will be delivered in accordance with the Closing the Gap Priority Reforms, in collaboration with state and territory governments, as well as First Nations organisations and communities.
This commitment acknowledges extensive research and national discussions on the matter over an extended period, recognising the urgent need for change. The objective is to enable communities to reside on their Country with access to safe and reliable water sources and essential services. The allocated funding presents an opportunity to address known challenges and implement priority solutions aligned with community aspirations.
The Goyder Institute for Water Research, in partnership with NWGA and Desert Knowledge Australia, organised a 2.5-day, in-person forum ‘Working together for better drinking water in the bush’ in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), NT, from June 27 to 29, 2023.
The forum aimed to:
Outcomes of the forum include:
