Waterwise Greening Scheme offers greener future for local governments

30 July 2023

Almost half a million dollars of funding provided to waterwise councils in the last four years
Promotes cooler, greener and more waterwise communities in the face of climate change

Today on National Tree Day Water Minister Simone McGurk has applauded Waterwise Councils for helping create cooler, greener and more sustainable neighbourhoods through Water Corporation's Waterwise Greening Scheme.

The scheme provides waterwise local governments with up to $10,000 in co-funding annually to support a range of waterwise greening initiatives.

In 2022-23, the scheme co-funded 263 waterwise verge rebates, 52,984 waterwise plants, six waterwise verge or garden workshops, 427 waterwise trees and one waterwise garden competition across 17 local governments.

The City of Joondalup has embraced the scheme and was announced as the Platinum Waterwise Council at the May 2022 Waterwise Recognition event, making them eligible for up to $20,000 of co-funding in this funding period.

One of its recent projects was the Carina Loop waterwise demonstration garden in Ocean Reef, where co-funding was used to remove existing grass, decommission irrigation and install waterwise plants and informative signage.

Since 2019-20, almost half a million dollars has been allocated to waterwise projects across the state.

To be eligible, local governments must be an endorsed Waterwise Council with a verge policy or similar consistent with waterwise best-practice.

The Waterwise Greening Scheme supports the WA Government’s Kep Katitjin-Gabi Kaadadjan (Waterwise Perth Action Plan 2) to establish leading waterwise communities for Boorloo (Perth) and Bindjareb (Peel) by 2030.

To find out more about the Waterwise Greening Scheme, visit Water Corporation's website

Comments attributed to Water Minister Simone McGurk:

"It's fantastic to see Water Corporation partnering with Waterwise Councils to help create cooler, greener and more sustainable neighbourhoods.

"I'd like to make special mention of those local governments who are committed to finding new and innovative ways to share the waterwise message with their communities.

“We’ve seen a commitment to the program over the last four years of almost half a million dollars allocated to greening communities, which is a fantastic result.”

Comments attributed to Emily Hamilton, Member for Joondalup:

"I want to acknowledge the leading role that the City of Joondalup is playing in helping its residents live more sustainably.

"The City is a leader in sustainability and was recognised as a Platinum Waterwise Council at the May 2022 Waterwise Recognition event subsequently receiving additional funding this year for their great work in this space.

"This is a great example of a local government working alongside Water Corporation to promote the waterwise message at a grassroots level."