Demand blooms for waterwise plants following long, hot summer

• Households encouraged to choose native plants to reduce domestic water use
• 116,000 waterwise plants and 2,700 street trees co-funded in 2023-24
• $675,000 awarded to eligible councils since 2019-20 under Waterwise Greening Scheme
• Applications now open to waterwise-endorsed local governments across WA

The initiative is part of Water Corporation's Waterwise Greening Scheme, which provides eligible councils with up to $10,000 in co-funding for various urban greening activities.

In 2023-24, the scheme helped fund 167 waterwise verges, 116,000 waterwise plants, 2,700 street trees, 15 gardening workshops and four waterwise demonstration gardens.

A record 23 waterwise-endorsed councils received funding in the last financial year, taking the scheme's total contribution to $675,000 since 2019-20.

In that time, Water Corporation and partner councils have provided 296,000 free or subsidised native plants, funded 1,000 waterwise verges and planted 6,000 street trees.

It follows prolonged hot, dry weather across southern Western Australia, with Perth recording its driest six-month period in 150 years between October 2023 and April this year.

The Waterwise Greening Scheme encourages the use of native plants as part of an attractive, low maintenance and water efficient garden.

This is especially important in Perth and southern WA where climate change has seen annual rainfall decrease by around 20 per cent since the 1970s, leading to an 80 per cent reduction in streamflow to metropolitan dams.

With over a third of domestic water use in the garden, choosing native waterwise plants helps conserve precious drinking water supplies while also reducing household bills. 

The Waterwise Greening Scheme supports the WA Government's Kep Katitjin-Gabi Kaadadjan (Waterwise Perth Action Plan 2) to establish leading waterwise communities for Boorloo (Perth) and Bindjareb (Peel) by 2030.

Expressions of interest for the 2024-25 Waterwise Greening Scheme are open to all waterwise councils statewide in August. To find out more, visit Water Corporation's website. 

Information about localised programs and workshops will be publicised by local governments throughout the financial year. 

For more information about plants best suited to different WA climates, visit Water Corporation's waterwise plant directory at watercorporation.com.au/Waterwise/Waterwise-plants.

Comments attributed to Water Minister Simone McGurk:

"The prolonged dry weather following last summer was a stark reminder of the need to adapt to a future with less reliable rainfall.

"One of the most effective ways to reduce domestic water consumption is in the garden, where over a third of household water is used.

"Native plants thrive in local conditions, requiring less maintenance and, importantly, less water to withstand our long, hot summers.

"The Waterwise Greening Scheme can be used to fund native plant giveaways, street trees, gardening workshops and various other initiatives by eligible councils to encourage their residents to be waterwise in the garden.

"It's a fantastic collaboration that is continuing to grow and helping to create cooler, greener and more sustainable neighbourhoods."