Feasibility projects
Investigating opportunities to increase Australia’s water security
The Australian Government is partnering with Australia’s state and territory governments to identify and build water infrastructure that will increase water security for primary industries including agriculture, support thriving regions and build resilience to drought.
An important part of this is working collaboratively with the states and territories to investigate the feasibility of possible water infrastructure projects for the future to support prosperity and our national economy.
More than $145 million has already been committed to over 50 feasibility projects through the Australian Government’s National Water Infrastructure Development Fund.
This investment has accelerated the detailed planning and business case development that informs water infrastructure investment decisions, and which is essential before water infrastructure projects begin.
Completed feasibility studies are published by relevant states and territories at their own discretion, with available studies linked below.
ACT
- Nil
NSW
In planning
- Mole River Dam Business Case
$12 million commitment by the Australian Government
Complete
- Border Rivers Infrastructure Investment Feasibility Study
$550,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Peel Water Infrastructure Investment Feasibility Study
$850,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Cobar and Nyngan Water Supply Feasibility Study
$850,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Walcha Water Security Feasibility Study
$100,000 commitment by the Australian Government
QLD
In planning
- Hughenden Irrigation Business Case
Up to $10 million commitment by the Australian Government, managed by the North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority
Underway
- Upper Burdekin Feasibility Study
$3 million commitment by the Australian Government, managed by the North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority - North and South Burnett Regions Feasibility Study (including Coalstoun Lakes Irrigation Pipeline Study component)
$3.5 million commitment by the Australian Government - Hells Gates Dam Scheme and Big Rocks Weir Project Feasibility Study
$24 million commitment by the Australian Government, managed by the North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority - Urannah Dam Business Case and Approvals Project
$10 million commitment by the Australian Government - Lakeland Irrigation Area Business Case and Approvals Project
$10 million commitment by the Australian Government
Complete
- Nullinga Dam Feasibility Study
$5 million commitment by the Australian Government - Bundaberg Channel Capacity Upgrade Feasibility Study
$750,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Gayndah Regional Irrigation Development (GRID) Project Feasibility Study
$1.2 million commitment by the Australian Government - Lockyer Valley Aquifer Recharge Feasibility Study
$120,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Burdekin Falls Dam Raising Feasibility Study
$400,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Burdekin Haughton Channel Capacity Upgrade Feasibility Study
$1.9 million commitment by the Australian Government - Lower Fitzroy River Infrastructure Project Business Case (Rookwood Weir)
$2 million commitment by the Australian Government - Hughenden Irrigation Scheme Preliminary Business Case
$2 million commitment by the Australian Government (through the Community Development Grants Programme administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications) - Clermont: Water Security Feasibility Study
$225,000 commitment by the Australian Government - North West Queensland Strategic Water Storage Feasibility Study
$1.77 million commitment by the Australian Government - Urannah Dam Feasibility Study
$3 million commitment by the Australian Government - South East Queensland Treated Effluent for Agricultural Production Feasibility Study
$650,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Emu Swamp Dam Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Project Feasibility Study
$450,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Emu Swamp Dam Feasibility Study
$3.97 million commitment by the Australian Government - Lakeland Irrigation Area Feasibility Study
$830,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Hells Gates Dam Feasibility Study
$2.2 million commitment by the Australian Government - Tablelands Irrigation Project Feasibility Study
$750,000 commitment by the Australian Government
SA
Complete
- Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme Feasibility Study
$2.5 million commitment by the Australian Government - Northern Reservoirs Feasibility Study
$1.2 million commitment by the Australian Government
Victoria
Underway
- Coldstream Feasibility Study
$250,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Hinterland Recycled Water Feasibility Study
$300,000 commitment by the Australian Government
Complete
- Agriculture and Job Growth to the West of Melbourne Feasibility Study
$540,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Lindenow Valley Water Security Feasibility Study
$550,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Coldstream Recycled Water Pipeline (CROPS) Feasibility Study
$300,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Macalister Irrigation District MID2030 Phase 2 Development Feasibility Study
$680,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Southern Victorian Irrigation Development Pre-feasibility Study
$680,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Dilwyn Aquifer Infrastructure Feasibility Study
$100,000 commitment by the Australian Government - South East Melbourne Regional Water Plan Feasibility Study
$91,500 commitment by the Australian Government - Mitiamo Reticulated Water Supply Feasibility Study
$750,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Moonambel Water Supply Feasibility Study
$180,000 commitment by the Australian Government
WA
Underway
- Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme
$1 million commitment by the Australian Government
Complete
- Ord Stage 3 Feasibility Study - WA
$2.5 million commitment by the Australian Government - Western Trade Coast Managed Aquifer Recharge Feasibility Study
$690,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Peel Business Park Managed Aquifer Recharge Feasibility Study
$700,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Myalup-Wellington Infrastructure and Water Use Improvement Project Feasibility Study
$1 million commitment by the Australian Government - Oakover Valley Irrigation Pre-feasibility Study
$270,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Pilbara Irrigated Agriculture Feasibility Study
$960,000 commitment by the Australian Government - Ord Siphon Feasibility Study
$160,000 commitment by the Australian Government
TAS
- Nil
NT
Underway
- Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage (AROWS) Business Case Project
$2 million commitment by the Australian Government - Roper River Catchment Water Resource Assessment, led by CSIRO
$3.5 million commitment by the Australian Government
Complete
- Ord Stage Three Feasibility Study - NT
$2.5 million commitment by the Australian Government - Northern Territory Irrigation Feasibility Study
$985,000 commitment by the Australian Government
Other
Underway
- Great Artesian Basin Water Resource Model, led by Geoscience Australia
$6.5 million committed by the Australian Government
Complete
- Northern Australian Water Resource Assessment, led by CSIRO
$15 million commitment by the Australian Government