What is the Home Garden WaterWise Rebate Scheme

What is the Home Garden WaterWise Rebate Scheme? The Home Garden WaterWise Rebate Scheme is a Queensland Government package of new incentives designed to support householders throughout Queensland by making their gardens more water efficient during this time of severe drought. The Queensland Government is providing a rebate of 50% of the total purchase cost for defined garden products up to a maximum rebate of $50, for products purchased on or after 18 December 2006. It is anticipated that the scheme will run to 17 December 2008. Gardens provide recreational pleasure and beauty and are extremely important to our environment. A considerable amount of water can be saved by selecting the right plants for local conditions and watering them in the cool of the day, when evaporation is at its lowest level. In conjunction with the Home WaterWise Rebate Scheme, the Home Garden WaterWise Rebate Scheme forms part of the solution to the current drought affecting many parts of Queensland. Both schemes coordinate with plans to improve water use efficiency, provide more dams, introduce recycled water for industry, develop a water grid to connect all new and existing dams, and investigate desalination. The Queensland Water Commission has also been established to achieve safe, secure and sustainable water supplies in south east Queensland and other designated areas. More information can be obtained by visiting you are eligible to receive a rebate of $20. If over $100 worth of defined garden products is purchased, you are eligible to receive the maximum rebate of $50. Only one claim can be made per household over the lifetime of the scheme. Please read the terms and conditions prior to purchasing your products. What is the Home Garden WaterWise Rebate Scheme? For more information: Call the hotline Location of eligible households The scheme applies to all eligible residential households throughout Queensland. What are the defined garden products? Eligible Queensland householders are entitled to claim a rebate for any combination of the following defined garden products: • native and drought resistant plants that last for more than one year (excludes annuals, seeds, vegetables, fruit trees, edible herbs and turf) • soils (e.g. for top dressing gardens) and mulches that may be either organic (e.g. bark chips, sugar cane) or inorganic (e.g. pebbles – which must be between 2mm and 20mm in size) • kits or devices specifically designed for generating compost and/or the keeping of worms • water crystals and soil wetting agents that increase the water retention of soil. 1800 243 585 Home Garden WaterWise Rebate Scheme Rebate available: 50% of purchase price up to $50 Residential householders can purchase any combination of defined garden products in accordance with the terms and conditions, to obtain a one-off rebate of 50% of the total purchase cost up to a maximum rebate of $50. For example, if $40 worth of defined garden products is purchased, Why must I seek advice from my local nursery or garden retail outlet? To ensure that your garden products are eligible for a rebate, you will need to seek advice from your local nursery or garden retail outlet prior to purchasing your choice of plants. Plants that are suited to drought conditions in the southern part of the State may not be suited to conditions Please refer to the Terms and conditions for detailed information on the requirements under the Home Garden WaterWise Rebate Scheme. 9 311662 170668 #28087 18/12 2 in the north and west of the State. When planning your purchases, consider your local climate, soil type, elevation, slope and orientation of the land. It is wise to work out a plan for your garden before investing in any new garden plants or products so you can incorporate water saving techniques and make your garden as low maintenance as possible. If property management agents are directed by an owner to claim a rebate for the investment property, the agent must lodge the application form together with a copy of the property management contract between the property owner and the property manager, or with a letter of authority from the owner authorising the property manager to act on his/her behalf to claim a rebate. The installation address on the application form must reflect the name and address of the investment property. What is an eligible residential household? Department of Housing properties Owners of the following residential properties are eligible to apply for the Home Garden WaterWise Rebate Scheme. • Houses • Duplexes, units, apartments, flats and townhouses • Caretaker houses on commercial or industrial premises • Boarding houses • Villas in retirement villages • Relocatable homes in retirement or tourist complexes, where the land may be leased but the home must be owned. To be eligible, residences must have a unique identifying address such as a street, unit or lot number. Only one claim can be made for each unique identifying address over the lifetime of the scheme. Rebates are available to tenants of properties owned by the Department of Housing. Tenants are eligible for a rebate as long as they have received prior written approval from their local Department of Housing Area Manager, which needs to be forwarded with the application form. New homes Owners of new properties may claim a rebate for appropriate products covered by this scheme. Commercial builders cannot claim rebates for any residential properties that they construct for commercial purposes. Businesses The Home Garden WaterWise Rebate Scheme is aimed at residential households only. A business is not eligible to claim a rebate for commercial or industrial properties, but may claim a rebate for any residential property it owns. Rental properties Tenants of eligible household properties wishing to apply for a rebate should gain approval from the property owner or landlord prior to purchasing any items that they intend to claim to ensure a rebate has not been claimed for your address. Claiming a rebate Only one claim per unique identifying address can be made over the lifetime of the scheme. To claim a rebate, applicants must forward the original receipt which clearly shows the type of product purchased (e.g. soil, mulch or type of plant), a fully completed and signed application form and proof of residency (e.g. current rates notice; telephone, electricity or gas bill or tenancy agreement). The receipts will not be returned to the applicant under any circumstance. Photocopies of original receipts will only be accepted as proof of purchase if certified as a true copy by a Justice of the Peace or Commissioner for Declarations. Community title schemes and retirement villages As a complex of residential dwellings, the body corporate or village management of a block of townhouses, units or retirement villas can apply for one rebate under the name of the body corporate or village management. The complex itself would be considered as an individual property when applying for a rebate. The individual lot owners or tenants can also apply for one rebate and should obtain approval from their landlord prior to applying for the rebate. Individual lot owners within a complex cannot claim for defined garden products for the common grounds, nor can the body corporate or village management claim on the behalf of lot owners for garden products for the individual lots. Water restrictions Even in water efficient gardens, it is imperative that householders follow water restrictions in place in their local council area. More information Call the Queensland Government Hotline on 1800 243 585. Visit the Department of Natural Resources and Water website Email homewaterwiserebatescheme@nrw.qld.gov.au Investment properties Owners of investment properties can claim a rebate for each property they own. A separate application must be made for each property.