National Water Grid Fund applications

The National Water Grid Fund (NWGF) is the Australian Government’s infrastructure investment program to improve water access and security by delivering nationally important water infrastructure projects that unlock potential, build resilience, and promote growth and sustainability.

This includes leading the development of a National Water Grid – a series of region-specific systems that will help grow Australia’s agriculture, build resilience to drought, and support regional prosperity.

Funding applications to the National Water Grid are highly competitive and are submitted from right across Australia.

The National Water Grid Branch is an agency within the Australian Government that shapes national water infrastructure policy and investment, and leads the National Water Grid Fund.

All National Water Grid funding decisions are made by the Australian Government’s National Water Grid Branch.

The key objectives of the National Water Grid fund are to:

• provide safe and reliable water for regional and remote communities – increasing water access, quality and security to better meet essential town water needs in regional and remote Australia
• generate public benefit through responsible investment in water infrastructure for productive use –improving water access, quality and security for agricultural, primary industry and industrial use to support regional economic growth and development
• build resilient water infrastructure that is environmentally sustainable and culturally responsive – strengthening the National Water Grid so that water infrastructure investments will support the protection of our cultural heritage and better meet future challenges from climate change, while managing environmental impacts.

The National Water Grid offers 3 funding streams:

Capital Program–funding for:

• preliminary business case phase
• detailed business case phase
• pre-construction phase
• construction phase

First Nations Water Infrastructure Program–projects may include, but are not limited to:

• upgrading networks,
• drilling and equipping bores
• installing water treatment systems.

Business case, planning and pre-construction projects may also be considered to inform infrastructure solutions.

Science Program– research projects that can:

• accelerate uptake of new and emerging water security technologies
• increase the use of climate resilient water sources
• underpin sustainable, nature-positive development of water resources, particularly in northern Australia.

For further information about eligible projects please read the documents listed below.

Applicants should read and understand the following documents:

• NSW NWGF EOI Guidelines for Applicants (January 2025)
• NWG Investment Framework (October 2022)
• NWG Program Administration Manual (November 2024)
• NWG Ancillary Benefits Guide (June 2024)
• NWG First Nations Water Infrastructure Fact sheet (June 2024)
• NWG Science Strategy (February 2023)

National Water Grid funding is not available for:

• on-farm initiatives (opportunities exist under other funding programs)
• urban water infrastructure in major cities
• maintenance or refurbishment – unless a betterment element can be demonstrated that will provide substantial water for agriculture, industry and/or regional communities
• sewerage treatment plant projects – unless a betterment element can be demonstrated as per maintenance and refurbishment projects.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries has selected 5 industry groups to represent the breadth of selected primary industries considered vital to NSW. These include extensive livestock, cropping, forestry, horticulture/viticulture and fisheries enterprises.

The NSW expression of interest (EOI) process aligns with the NSW Grants Administration Guide 2024 and provides an open and transparent process for all applicants.

The NSW Grants Administration Guide 2024 provides principles-based guidance and includes mandatory requirements for Ministers, officials and Ministerial staff.

The NSW Government plays a dual role in leading the NWGF program within NSW, and in evaluating proposals and recommending a shortlist of projects for development of funding applications to the NSW Minister for Water (or their delegate).

All NWGF projects are led through state-based applications. The department will support shortlisted NSW proponents to develop their funding applications.

Once funding submissions are completed and approved by the delegate, the department will submit the funding applications to the NWGB.

Under the Federal Financial Relations Act, only state and territory governments can submit funding applications to the National Water Grid Branch for assessment.

No. Expressions of interest for funding under National Water Grid will only be accepted through the SmartyGrants online portal. No other submissions in any other formats will be accepted.

To ensure fairness for all applicants, expressions of interest for projects in NSW must be submitted within the defined application period.

A request to submit an expression of interest after the closing date and time will only be considered if the applicant can demonstrate they have experienced exceptional circumstances.