Local councils will deliver sustainable stormwater harvesting and re-use projects with the aid of federal funding.

The funding will be more than $42 million to roll out nine projects to help secure water supplies in urban areas across Australia.

Councils receiving the funds include Brisbane City Council, Rural City of Murray Bridge, City of Salisbury, Light Regional Council, Hurstville City Council, Canada Bay City Council and Oberon City Council.

Sustainable aspects of the projects include the requirement to either source 100 per cent of their energy needs from renewable sources or fully offset the carbon impact of the project’s operations.

Reducing the impact of urban run-off on rivers, estuaries and coastal waters are major parts of the projects.

These grants are part of the third round of projects from the federal government’s National Urban Water and Desalination Plan to reduce reliance on conventional water sources.

Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, Don Farrell said 5.5 billion litres of treated stormwater a year will be provided under these projects.

Mr Farrell said the projects will improve water security by diversifying water supplies available in urban areas.

“Several of the projects announced today will provide treated stormwater for irrigation of community sportsgrounds, parks, gardens and golf courses, and some will use treated stormwater for industrial purposes,” Mr Farrell said.

The grants are expected to contribute to South Australia’s target of harvesting up to 75 gigalitres of stormwater a year by 2050.

Minister for Water and the River Murray, Paul Caica said SA received around $67.5 million in federal funding under the first two rounds, complementing a round of $53 million from the state government.

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