The Albanese and Minns governments are providing up to $70 million in funding for councils, organisations and businesses to support economic adjustment in the southern Murray-Darling Basin, which includes Narrandera.

Under a joint agreement, the Australian Government is providing funding to invest in Basin communities across NSW through the Sustainable Communities Program.

The funding aims to minimise potential socio-economic impacts of environmental water recovery under the Basin Plan.

The $70 million Economic Development and Infrastructure Round is the next phase of the Minns government’s plans to support communities across the Riverina and Murray regions which may be vulnerable and exposed to water purchasing being undertaken by the Australian government.

The funding will provide grants from $750,000 to $10 million for projects that create new economic opportunities and reduce barriers to workforce participation, enabling people to continue to live and work locally after water recovery.

The funding aims to minimise the impacts of water recovery by creating and supporting jobs and new industries, encouraging innovation and delivering critical infrastructure that helps people to live and work locally.

Projects eligible for funding as part of the $70 million program could include:

• infrastructure that unlocks industrial developments and new opportunities for agriculture

• economic infrastructure and upgrades to support industry such as new processing facilities or logistics hubs

• infrastructure to support workforce participation including childcare or other community services.

This latest round will target 12 Local Government areas including Narrandera:

Balranald, Berrigan, Carrathool, Edward River, Federation, Griffith, Hay, Leeton, Murray River, Murrumbidgee, Narrandera, Wentworth.

The $70 million Economic Development and Infrastructure Round follows the Early Investment Round of $16.3 million announced in August 2025, which provided initial stimulus to support investments in exposed and vulnerable communities.

Applications opened on Tuesday 9 December at 12pm and close Tuesday 24 February at 12pm.

The Economic Development and Infrastructure Round has been designed using feedback from extensive consultation with NSW Southern Basin communities. The insights will also inform the design of future rounds under the NSW Sustainable Communities Program.

Further support for businesses and industry, as well as community-led and Aboriginal initiatives will be available in 2026.

For more information on consultation outcomes and updates on funding under the NSW Sustainable Communities Program, visit www.nsw.gov.au/scp.

To apply for the Economic Development and Infrastructure Round, visit www.nsw.gov.au/scp

To learn more about the Australian Government’s Sustainable Communities Program, visit https://www.dcceew.gov.au/water/policy/programs/open/sustainable-communities