13/10/2005 - Sixteen innovative environmental projects will receive almost $10 million in Australian Government funding over the next three years, leading to significant improvements in the sustainable management of our land, water and wildlife.
Funded under the Natural Heritage Trust’s National Competitive Component, the projects worth $9,973,450, were announced today by Australian Government Ministers for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell; Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Peter McGauran; and Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, Senator Ian Macdonald.

"These projects are carefully targeted investments that will have a broad impact on the health of our environment," Senator Campbell said.

Australia’s understanding of freshwater fish across northern Australia will be improved through a $898,000 project that will produce a one-stop-shop for information relating to freshwater fish in the region as well as improve the management of aquatic habitat and biodiversity issues.

"The rivers of northern Australia are a rich source of undiscovered biological information, and entire catchments have never been adequately surveyed for their marine life and habitats. For example, useful information exists for only five of the 21 major river systems in the southern half of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The information collected will be valuable for decades to come," Senator Campbell said.

“A further $794,430 will help deliver a long-term management strategy to manage the estimated 300,000 feral camels in the desert areas of Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia.

"Camels can have serious environmental, economic and cultural impacts on desert Australia, and the population is growing at a rate of around 10 per cent each year. This project will provide a comprehensive long-term strategy to control these feral animals and protect biodiversity as well as improve natural resources and landholder capacity," he said.

Mr McGauran said a project being undertaken by the Australian National University’s Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies will help cutting-edge science to be converted into practical on-ground improvements on farms, particularly in the areas of restoration programs, vegetation management practices and farm management regimes.

"Around $1.5 million has been allocated to ensure important new research findings are widely communicated to a broad audience, including landholders, non-government organisations, regional bodies and policy makers," Mr McGauran said.
"It is an important project that will redress some of the existing knowledge gaps and strengthen active researcher/landholder partnerships.
"Conservation Farmers Inc will reduce herbicide-contaminated run-off from cropping farms into waterways, after being awarded $511,000 for a project funded under the National Competitive Component.
"The project will develop better methods that are profitable for grain farmers and have a positive impact on water quality and biodiversity in riverine areas. A key output will be the production of an education package for future undergraduate training in environmental farm management practices," Mr McGauran said.

Senator Macdonald highlighted a $1.35 million wetland management project that brings together four organisations - The Wetlands Centre, WWF Australia, Wetlands International - Oceania and Wetland Care Australia - to build the knowledge and expertise of those involved in wetland conservation and management.

"By developing resources, training and best-practice management techniques, this project will increase community involvement in wetland conservation, and enhance the local skills being applied to wetland and shorebird management," Senator Macdonald said.
"Ultimately, it will lead to improvements in the health of our precious wetland resources and their biodiversity and contribute to Australia meeting commitments under international wetlands agreements."

Senator Macdonald said the Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management received $435,084 for a project that will help the next generation of land managers work with community groups to defeat weedy invaders.
"Weeds cost the economy about $4 billion annually and are a major threat to native plants and animals. This project is part of a coordinated effort on weed management and the CRC project complements the Australian Government’s new $40 million Defeating the Weeds Menace initiative," he said.

The Ministers also announced an extra $20.5 million funding under the Regional Competitive Component for 28 large-scale environmental projects that will significantly improve the sustainable management of our natural resources. A full list of National Competitive Component projects for Round 2 is available below.