Growing our River Murray communities
Tuesday 13 October 2026 RegionsMedia release
The Albanese and Malinauskas Governments are investing almost $1.5 million to support housing growth at Berri West and undertake critical infrastructure planning work in the Riverland and Wellington East.
Under a joint agreement with the Malinauskas Government, the Albanese Government is investing $12.7 million in South Australia’s River Murray communities, as part of Round 1 of the Sustainable Communities Program.
More than $1 million will be provided to Berri Barmera Council to support infrastructure upgrades and planning works to deliver up to 750 new homes in the Berri West Growth Precinct.
This includes the delivery of an upgraded Community Wastewater Management System (CWMS) through the construction of a new pump station and upgrades to two existing pump stations.
The council will also develop a costed infrastructure plan for the Berri West Growth Precinct, supporting the future development of core infrastructure such as roads, stormwater, wastewater and irrigation for new open spaces and reserves.
The Renmark Paringa Council will receive $250,000 to support its delivery of a master plan, business case, and engineering designs for critical water infrastructure at the Calperum Industrial Estate in Renmark.
This planning work aims to unlock serviced industrial land, support new industry and jobs, and increase water reuse while reducing reliance on the River Murray.
Down-river near Lake Alexandrina, the Coorong District Council will receive more than $185,000 to undertake site investigations to identify the necessary critical infrastructure to deliver future land divisions, housing development and sustainable growth at Wellington East.
Sustainable Communities Program - Round 1 recipients:
Investment-ready projects (Housing infrastructure and planning)
| Project | Recipient | SCP funding |
|---|---|---|
| Increase capacity of CWMS pump stations to enable residential development of Berri West Growth Precinct | Berri Barmera Council | $910,000 |
Feasibility projects (Housing infrastructure and planning)
| Project | Recipient | SCP funding |
|---|---|---|
| Costed Infrastructure Plan to develop the Berri West Growth Precinct, Population and Businesses | Berri Barmera Council | $128,000 |
| Calperum Industrial Estate Expansion and Water Reuse Project | Renmark Paringa Council | $250,000 |
| Wellington East Infrastructure Feasibility Investigations | Coorong District Council | $185,000 |
The South Australian Sustainable Communities Program is a Commonwealth-funded program supporting community-led and industry-led projects aimed at minimising the potential social or economic impacts of water recovery under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Round 1 has also delivered more than $3 million towards local health and retirement living projects in the region, and $3.5 million for projects that will benefit River Murray primary producers and growers.
Each project has been assessed and approved for funding by the Malinauskas Government through the state’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions.
More successful projects will be announced soon.