Hon Paul Caica - Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation Minister for Water and the River Murray Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation

Friday, 9 December 2011

Minister for Water and the River Murray Paul Caica said the State Government's Water Efficient Garden Goods Rebate Scheme is ending soon.

Mr Caica said the opportunity to buy products under the Water Efficient Garden Goods Rebate will end on December 31 and the community has until March 31 to claim the rebate payments.

Rebates for stand alone rainwater tanks and the residential retrofit program will continue to ensure the community can make their homes more water efficient.

Mr Caica said the community has shown strong support for this scheme since it began in 2007.

"Over the past four years more than 53,600 rebates worth almost $4.85 million have been claimed on water efficient gardening products,'' he said.

"The total number of rebates under the H2OME Rebate Scheme is more than 257,570 worth more than $46.5 million.

"The scheme has helped the South Australian community to be more water efficient, particularly during times of water restrictions and also encouraged manufacturers and retailers to develop and promote products with higher levels of water efficiency."

Water wise garden products purchased under the scheme included Smart Watermark approved water efficient sprinklers, rainwater diverters, soil moisture sensors or rain sensors, tap timers, organic mulch, irrigation system controllers, drip watering system components and soil wetting agents.

Mr Caica Water Wise Measures remain in place across most of South Australia.

"Under the Water Wise Measures householders can use a hand held hose with an approved nozzle or drip irrigation system to water their gardens at any time and sprinklers can be used after 5pm and before 10am on any day," he said.

"The drought has taught us to become much more water wise and I congratulate all South Australians on their efforts in this regard."

For more information visit www.sawater.com.au or call the Water Wise Hotline on 1800 130 952.