10/05/2005 - The Minister
for the Environment and Heritage, Senator
Ian Campbell, today announced $15.5 million
of new funding to help protect some of Australia's
most important heritage places.
Of this, a new National Heritage Investment
Initiative will provide $10.5 million over
four years to conserve places of outstanding
heritage value to the nation.
"The National Heritage Investment Initiative
builds on the establishment of the new National
Heritage List in 2004 by the Howard Government,"
Senator Campbell said.
"As new places are added to the National
Heritage List this initiative will help provide
funding to ensure their national heritage
values are protected.
"The initiative will also support projects
to protect other important heritage places
around the country.
"The initiative continues the Government's
leadership in conserving and promoting our
most important national heritage places."
The National Heritage Investment Initiative
complements existing Australian Government
programmes that help communities identify
and share their links to Australia's national
story.
Senator Campbell also announced additional
grants of $3 million for St Mary's Cathedral
in Perth and $2 million for the Church of
St Mary's Star of the Sea in Melbourne to
support restoration projects.
"Churches and cathedrals have long been
an important focus for Australian communities.
This funding will help conserve two of Australia's
most important places of worship.
"Funding for the National Heritage Investment
Initiative is part of the Australian Government's
overall 2005-06 Budget spending of $3.2 billion
on the environment and reflects the increasing
focus to fund direct and practical action
to tackle our national environmental challenges,"
Senator Campbell said.
For more information www.deh.gov.au/about/budget/2005
