As part of the $12.9 billion Water for the Future plan, the Government is delivering the $250 million National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative to help people use water wisely in their everyday lives.

The Australian Government is providing:

• Rebates of up to $500 for households to install rainwater tanks or greywater systems.
• Grants to surf life saving clubs of up to $10,000 to install a rainwater tank or undertake a larger water saving project

The big money is going to the well-off to keep their gardens green, not to cut water use in the home as the rebates were intended, writes Michael Bachelard.
STATE Government water savings rebates are being claimed by well-off middle-class people living in leafy eastern and north-eastern suburbs. Overwhelmingly, they are used to keep gardens green.

VICTORIA is lagging behind other states in the water saving stakes, with new figures revealing a failure to drought-proof our homes.   NSW and Queensland are saving more water and their residents are receiving more money for their efforts, an analysis of State Government data has revealed.   The Brumby Government has issued more than 25,814 rainwater tank rebates, worth about $6.3 million, to Victorians in the past five years.   But Queensland issued more than 225,000 rainwater tank rebates in the past two years alone, handing almost $300 million to water-wise citizens.

MINISTER for Water Phil Costa is saving every drop of water this year and has encouraged others to do the same.  He said making small improvements to water efficiency around the home had a very positive environmental impact.  ``About 70 per cent of water used in greater Sydney is by households,'' he said.

The misleading commentary and rhetoric of Michael Crutchfield continues to amaze residents in the Geelong community. His recent outburst on water security ("Pipe dreams'' GA 19/12) has little credibility when we look at the Brumby Government's recent history on water.

MELBOURNE consumed slightly less water in 2008 than 2007 but still lived beyond its means in the ongoing drought.

Melbourne's water consumption has plateaued despite a multi-million dollar State Government advertising campaign and continuing restrictions.

The start of 2009 means the end of the Queensland Government's water rebate scheme.

Rainwater tank industry groups predict 500 jobs will be lost and 25 per cent of businesses will close due to the Queensland government's decision to bring the $1,500 water tank rebate deadline forward six months.

Environmental groups say the Queensland Government is sending mixed messages by scrapping its waterwise rebate scheme.

The Minister for Climate Change and Water announced on the 1st of October 2008 that the Australian Government will make available grants of up to $10,000 to surf life saving clubs to install water saving and efficiency devices on club premises.