The Victorian Government (through Agriculture Victoria of the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (Agriculture Victoria) is offering a rebate to drought affected farmers who invest in urgently-needed on-farm water infrastructure that addresses animal welfare needs.

It provides a one-off, 25% rebate, up to $25,000 excluding GST, to eligible primary producers.

To assist with the purchase & installation of much needed on-farm water infrastructure, for animal welfare & drought resilience.

The Scheme is available to eligible farm businesses in the following Local Government Areas:

Alpine Benalla Buloke Campaspe East Gippsland Gannawarra Greater Bendigo Greater Shepparton Hindmarsh Horsham Indigo

Loddon Mildura Moira Northern Grampians Strathbogie Swan Hill Towong Wangaratta Wellington Wodonga Yarriambiack

Farming businesses outside of the above areas can apply, if they can demonstrate a need, and this will be assessed on a case by case basis.

Water Infrastructure must be purchased and installed for a genuine emergency, animal welfare or for maintaining existing permanent horticultural plantings and to improve drought resilience.

Eligible water infrastructure includes:

Grazing Livestock

1. Pipes
2. Water storage devices such as tanks and troughs associated with stock watering
3. Water pumps
4. Permanent repairs to fixed infrastructure (e.g. repair piping)
5. Drilling of new stock water bores and associated power supply such as generators, desalination plants
6. Desilting works of existing stock and domestic dams, where you can demonstrate that area of the property does not have access to suitable groundwater
7. Other materials or equipment necessary to install the above excluding purchase of machinery
8. Any freight component to purchase and install the equipment
9. The professional installation costs to install the water infrastructure.

Permanent Horticultural Plantings

Eligible water infrastructure for permanent horticultural plantings includes:

1. Drilling of new horticulture groundwater bores
2. Desilting dams

Press here for more information.