Water efficiency support for community housing

26 Oct 2021

The Victorian Government is helping more community housing organisations reduce costly water leaks and improve their facilities with an expansion of the community housing retrofit program to include Barwon Water.

Minister for Water the Hon. Lisa Neville MP announced $400,000 towards the new program that will provide not-for-profit emergency and community housing organisations with plumbing assistance for their properties to repair leaks, repair or replace fixtures and fittings and upgrade water-related appliances.

Narelle Lorbeer of the Northern Geelong Rental Housing Co-operative with Barwon Water’s Community Housing Retrofit project coordinator Leila Eskandar.
Narelle Lorbeer of the Northern Geelong Rental Housing Co-operative with Barwon Water’s Community Housing Retrofit project coordinator Leila Eskandar. The co-op offers long-term, affordable housing for those on low incomes, on behalf of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

This community housing retrofit program was trialled in the Melbourne metropolitan region and for the service areas of Central Highlands Water and Lower Murray Water, and is now being expanded to the Barwon Water service area.

To date the program has helped 657 community housing organisation properties save around 66 million litres of water per year, saving approximately $223,000 per year. Organisations are saving around $340 per property per year due to the assistance provided.

This program complements Barwon Water’s existing customer support and water efficiency programs aimed at helping customers reduce unnecessary costs from water leaks or inefficient water use from old fixtures, fittings and appliances.

Eligible customers on the program can receive up to $12,000 per property, with funding available until June 2023 or until all available funds are spent.

Community housing retrofit program