Govt support to strengthen water security for Scotdesco

The Federal Government has delivered on an election commitment to strengthen water security in the remote Aboriginal community of Scotdesco, on the far west coast of South Australia.

Four new 0.5 megalitre tanks have been installed, increasing the community’s water storage capacity by 30 per cent and strengthening water security for the long-term.

It comes after the previous installation of new household rainwater tanks and guttering, as well as infrastructure upgrades to ensure maximum water harvesting and UV treatment to ensure water is safe.

The tanks mark the completion of the Scotdesco Water Security Project, a $650,000 investment by the Albanese Government to improve water security and access to safe and reliable drinking water.

Without access to a main water network, Scotdesco residents have long relied on rainwater collected in the community’s catchment dam for drinking water.

These measures were developed in consultation with the community, which has had longstanding water security issues and ran dry in 2019.

The Scotdesco Water Security Project is part of the Government’s commitment to invest in essential services and infrastructure for remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, in line with Closing the Gap.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said every Australian deserved access to clean and safe drinking water, yet for some of our most remote communities this basic essential is out of reach.

“These new storage tanks will help secure Scotdesco’s water security for years to come,” she said.

Senator for South Australia, Senator Marielle Smith said access to safe and clean water was something no South Australian should ever go without.

“But in 2019, that is exactly what the community of Scotdesco faced. It must never happen again,” she said.

“I was proud to advocate for this investment alongside the community and its CEO Robert Larking and am incredibly grateful to Minister McCarthy for getting it done.

“The community of Scotdesco will now have access to a safe and reliable water source that is sustainable into the future.”

Scotdesco Aboriginal Corporation CEO, Robert Larking said the community now had a long-term sustainable water supply.

“These additional infrastructure works have resulted in a significant increase in our original water storage capacity,” he said.

“For the first time in many years, community is investigating opportunities to increase housing options now there is sufficient water capacity.”