PORT Lincoln’s rainwater tank rebate scheme has got a $5000 boost from the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board (EPNRM) to encourage more people to take up the Port Lincoln City Council rebate.

The money will be combined with the council’s $10,000 budget for the scheme in 2008/09.

EPNRM water resources program manager Jonathan Clark said they hoped the extra funding would increase the uptake of the rebate.

Mr Clark said the EPNRM wanted to give people an extra incentive to install rainwater tanks to promote sustainable water use, take the pressure off the mains supply and address stormwater management.

Mr Clark said it was difficult to capture and reuse stormwater in bulk in Port Lincoln, but tanks meant individuals could make the most of stormwater by intercepting it at its source and reducing the volume of water that flows out to sea.

“It’s important to control and reduce stormwater because it can cause flooding and erosion and it carries pollution into the sea.”

Councillor Neville Starke, who initiated the council rebate, said the council had already reduced its budget for rebates to $10,000 for this financial year because not enough people were taking up the rebate to make it worth budgeting $20,000 a year.

Last financial year 33 people applied and the council paid out $11,500 in rebates.

Mr Starke urged people to take advantage of the rebate to make sure it was not reduced again.

“After living on a farm for 54 years where rainwater was used throughout our houses and large rainwater tanks were the norm, I was shocked and disappointed when moving to Port Lincoln to see so much rainwater rushing down the streets from peoples’ roofs,” he said.

Mr Starke said he believed Port Lincoln was the first council in South Australia to offer this type of rebate.

“Hopefully Port Lincoln will be seen as a trend setter in water conservation.”

For more information on Port Lincoln City Council’s rainwater tank rebate scheme, go to www.portlincoln.sa.gov.au and click under “council services” or call 8682 3033.