Community Outreach Projects
| Rainwater Tank (RWT) Rebate Program |
|
 |
What is it?
Orica's Rainwater Tank (RWT) Rebate Program aimed to restore an amenity the community had lost because of the contaminated groundwater (i.e. the ability to extract and use groundwater as an alternative to townswater from Sydney Water Corporation). It was introduced in April 2005 and was made available to residents in an area declared a Groundwater Extraction Exclusion Area (GEEA), or Zone 1 of Botany groundwater management zones, by the then Department of Natural Resources (DNR) (now, the Department of Water and Energy [DWE]). Orica made a rebate of up to $2,450 available to eligible residents in the GEEA. Orica also provided funding under the RWT Rebate Program for rainwater tanks at local schools.
Following the announcement by DNR in July 2005 to expand the GEEA, Orica decided to extend its RWT Rebate Program to residents in the expanded GEEA. Orica has always maintained that it is not responsible for all the contamination of the Botany aquifer (for details about Botany groundwater management zones and its contamination, refer to DNR Q&A section of Water Recycling Workshop Report of October 2006). The decision to extend the RWT Rebate to residents in the expanded GEEA was a gesture of goodwill.
How many tanks have been installed?
993 rainwater tanks had been approved under the Orica RWT Rebate Program.
How long did the RWT Rebate Program run for?
The Orica RWT Rebate Program ended on 30 June 2008.
Who was eligible?
The Orica RWT Rebate was available to all residents living in a residential dwelling within the GEEA, or DWE declared Zone 1. Please note that the GEEA boundary runs along the middle of the boundary roads, and consequently properties located on the outside of the boundary were not eligible to receive this rebate.
How did it work?
- Eligible residents chose a supplier to install the RWT
- Residents paid the full cost of the tank installation to the supplier
- Residents applied for the Sydney Water Rebate
- Once the Sydney Water rebate application was approved, residents could then apply for the Orica RTW Rebate of up to $2,450
* Orica's rebate was additional to the Sydney Water Corporation rebate. For more information about the Sydney Water rebate go to www.sydneywater.com.
One of the rainwater tanks installed at
Banksmeadow Public School with Orica's RWT Rebate
|
