Money is flowing where water soon will be, with the state and federal governments announcing an extra $15 million for a new desalination plant for Kangaroo Island.

The project is touted to create 500 jobs in the community, improve water security, support vital industries and provide long-term social and economic recovery for the community which was devastated by the Black Summer bushfires.

The extra $15 million brings the total project funding to $47.8 million. 

Kangaroo Island Acting Mayor Bob Teasdale welcomes the extra funding for the project, which he says will effectively waterproof Kangaroo Island, diversify the local economy and create much-needed local jobs. 

Mr Teasdale says the announcement de-risks the vulnerability of the Island to drought and opens the door for local industry sectors to explore how they can use this water infrastructure to diversify their businesses and add further wealth to the Island’s economy. 

“This has been a long journey and comes at such a critical time for the Island’s economy as we rebuild from the bushfires and continue to be adversely impacted by COVID-19,” he says. 

“Mayor [Michael] Pengilly and council have worked tirelessly to advocate and plan for this eventuality that simply would not have been possible without the federal and state governments’ investment in Kangaroo Island.”

According to Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud, the funding will support a locally-led approach to bushfire recovery.

“The desalination plant is the first of many priority projects that will receive local economic recovery funding available for bushfire-affected communities,” he says.

South Australian Deputy Premier and KI native Vickie Chapman says this new investment will create an estimated 500 jobs and add over $200 million of economic value to Kangaroo Island in the next 15 years.

“This summer's devastating bushfires highlighted the vulnerability of Kangaroo Island's water infrastructure and the need for greater resilience for the future – the new desalination plant will provide this."

Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs says Kangaroo Islanders have been wanting this type of water infrastructure for a long time.

“Engagement with the local community over the past three years has made it clear greater capacity generated by this plant is needed to improve drinking water security and provide better water infrastructure to support the local tourism and agriculture industries."

The desalination plant will take between 18 and 24 months to complete with operations estimated to start in 2022.