Sustainable Communities Program
About the program
The Sustainable Communities Program is a $20 million grant program to help mitigate the social and economic impacts of the Australian Government’s water recovery for the environment.
Grants will fund projects that drive economic diversification, innovation and growth, enhance liveability, and bolster community resilience in South Australia’s most vulnerable River Murray communities.
Investment will be targeted and outcome-focused to meet the unique needs of South Australia’s most affected River Murray Communities.
Program status
Round 1 of South Australia’s Sustainable Communities Program closed on Tuesday 31 March 2026.
Round 2 of South Australia’s Sustainable Communities Program will open in early 2027.
If you would like to be notified when round 2 opens, email PIRSA.SCP@sa.gov.au.
Grant recipients
Round 1 investment ready projects (2026)
Organisation | Project | Amount |
|---|---|---|
Berri Barmera Council | Increase capacity of community wastewater management system pump stations to supply up to 750 residential allotments in the Berri West Growth Precinct | $910,019 |
Bridge Watersport Park | Create SA’s first cable wakeboard park, a new recreation attraction for Murray Bridge | $1,750,000 |
Culgoa Vineyards | Food grade olive oil processing and bottling facility for Riverland growers | $974,691 |
District Council of Loxton Waikerie | Build 22 new 2-bedroom units in Loxton Retirement Village | $2,200,000 |
Nippy's Waikerie Producers | Expansion and modernisation of fruit grading equipment to double local fruit processing capacity | $640,889 |
Nor West Bend Station | Improvements to a heritage-listed destination including riverfront landscaping and wheelchair access, and entry road upgrades to cater for motorbikes, vintage cars and caravans | $100,609 |
Pike River Constant Caire | Riverland Clearwater flagship tourism experience for the Renmark Paringa region | $775,000 |
Renmark Hotel | Build 20 new riverfront rooms for tourists and workers | $1,950,000 |
Renmark Medical Clinic | Renovation, expansion and doctor recruitment | $828,936 |
Venus Citrus | Water-saving, environmental and cold sterilisation storage infrastructure upgrades to minimise fruit loss, support export and help strengthen the state’s response to fruit fly market access requirements supporting more than 60 local growers | $1,718,264 |
Round 1 investment feasibility projects (2026)
Organisation | Project | Amount |
|---|---|---|
Berri Barmera Council | Develop a costed infrastructure plan for the Berri West Growth Precinct, unlocking up to 750 residential allotments | $128,048 |
Coorong District Council | Investigate critical infrastructure needs to support sustainable future residential growth of the Wellington East community | $185,570 |
Langhorne Creek Grape and Wine Inc. | Land and water use feasibility study to support Langhorne Creek’s transition to a more diverse and sustainable irrigated horticulture region | $50,000 |
Regional Development Australia Murraylands and Riverland Inc. | Riverland Advanced Food Transformation Hub to evaluate the feasibility of a multi-stream value add processing centre for the Riverland | $67,200 |
Renmark Paringa Council | Master planning and infrastructure design to unlock 12.5 hectares of serviced industrial land at Calperum Industrial Estate and reduce reliance on water from the River Murray | $250,000 |
Riverland Winegrape Growers Association | CCA post remediation pilot and commercial feasibility study to address a major waste challenge for the wine industry and investigate a potential new circular economy industry for the region | $70,000 |
The Trustee for 174 Causeway Road Unit Trust | Develop a comprehensive business case for nature-based tourism development Riverside Paringa Eco Tourist Park | $52,250 |
Waikerie Hotel Motel | Feasibility study to assess the viability of developing high-end tourism accommodation to attract higher-yield visitors to the region | $50,000 |
Program background and design
South Australian Sustainable Communities Program is led by PIRSA and funded by the Department of Climate, Energy, Environment and Water through the Australian Government's Sustainable Communities Program. The program provides $300 million over 4 years to provide adjustment assistance to Murray–Darling Basin communities impacted by the recovery of 450 gigalitres of water for the environment. The program is provided alongside water recovery activities.
South Australia's program was co-designed across government and informed by place-based consultation, existing stakeholder engagement, and regional and local economic development strategies and plans. The program aligns with the community adjustment assistance principles outlined in the Australian Government’s Restoring Our Rivers: Framework for delivering the 450 GL of additional environmental water.
To gain insight into the local context without duplicating effort or unnecessarily burdening communities under pressure, PIRSA leveraged existing consultation and engagement undertaken by other government agencies, local government and regional economic development bodies through a variety of strategic programs and reports.
Read the Sustainable Communities Program consultation summary ( ).
Contact
Sustainable Communities Program
Email: PIRSA.SCP@sa.gov.au
Photo: Grant Schwartzkopff