South Australia’s River Murray communities are set to benefit from a $20 million grant program that opened last Thursday 15 January.

The funding aims to ensure that as water is recovered under the Murray–Darling Basin Plan, communities along the river system continue to thrive. 

The South Australian Sustainable Communities Program is funded through the federal government’s Sustainable Communities Program, which has been established to support community transition as additional water is recovered to enhance environmental outcomes in the Murray–Darling Basin.

The program’s first round offers two types of grants: 

• Investment Feasibility grants that support early-stage work such as feasibility studies and planning to develop investment-ready proposals with the intent to apply for implementation funding in round 2.
• Investment Ready grants fund projects that are shovel-ready economic opportunities in eligible South Australian River Murray communities.

Grants will fund projects that drive economic diversification, innovation and growth, enhance liveability and bolster community resilience in South Australia’s most vulnerable River Murray communities.

Investment will be targeted and outcome-focused to meet the unique needs of South Australia’s most affected River Murray regions.

Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) is leading the program’s delivery on behalf of the state government. For Sustainable Communities Program grant guidelines, eligibility and application details, visit the PIRSA website.

Applications for the first round of Sustainable Communities Program grants are now open and will close at 5pm on Tuesday 31 March.