May 4, 2015
The Australian Government is strengthening its commitment to protect Gippsland’s natural environment with the announcement of $324,000 in funding for on-ground activities in the region under the National Landcare Programme.
The funding will go towards protecting the region’s Red Gum grassy plains woodlands, restoring native vegetation in the Bunurong ecosystem, as well as supporting a range of other important, locally-based environment and sustainable agriculture projects.
“Local Landcare Networks and other community-based groups will facilitate delivery of $324,000 of National Landcare Programme funding to help restore local ecosystems and help protect West Gippsland’s native plants and animals from the ongoing threat of invasive species,” Minister Hunt said.
“Over the next 18 months, the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority will support local Landcare networks and communities to carry out important on-ground works such as tackling invasive species and protecting the region’s iconic Red Gums.”
This National Landcare Programme investment will support the following projects:
- Protecting and restoring vital remnant vegetation in the Bunurong Ecosystem, led by the Bass Coast Landcare Network.
- Protecting, restoring and enhancing Red Gum Grassy Plains Woodlands, led by the Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network.
- Improving the condition and extent of critically endangered vegetation under the Foothills to the Foreshore’s Red Gum Grassy Plains project, led by the Maffra and Districts Landcare Network.
- Enhancing the Biolink – Strzelecki’s to the Coast, led by the South Gippsland Landcare Network.
- Connecting Calrossie, Won Wron and Devon North to protect and enhance remnant vegetation
in the Strzelecki’s, led by the Yarram Yarram Landcare Network.
Darren Chester, Federal Member for Gippsland, said the West Gippsland CMA has a proven track record in managing projects that consistently deliver good environmental outcomes in the Latrobe
Valley and Gippsland.
“Over the next 18 months this funding will help address some of the environmental issues facing the wider Gippsland region by planting 41,000 native plants, undertaking over 15 hectares of direct
seeding and 57.5 hectares of weed control, rolling out 30 km of fencing and protecting 66 hectares of remnant vegetation,” Mr Chester said.
Russell Broadbent, Federal Member for McMillan, said the government is ensuring that funding is invested locally to deliver real change that is targeted to the environment and the land.
“This is crucial because locals know what’s best for their environment and their community. This is a great opportunity for the local Landcare networks to work closely with their community to help
protect and restore significant sections of West Gippsland’s natural environment.”
The Government’s total investment in natural resource management programmes amounts to over $2 billion over the next four years—of which $454 million is being invested through Australia’s
natural resource management organisations.
For more information about the National Landcare Programme go to www.nrm.gov.au