| 13/10/2005
- The Australian Government will provide up to $150,000
to support a package of measures aimed at encouraging
private water donations for environmental projects along
the River Murray in South Australia, the Minister for
the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell announced
today.
Senator Campbell said the $150,000 would be provided to
support practical on-ground projects as part of the Environmental
Flows for the River Murray strategy which was launched
today by the South Australian Minister for River Murray,
Karlene Maywald.
"For the future of the River Murray, it is important
that the Australian and State Governments work together
to find practical solutions that make real differences
for the health of the river and its supported ecosystems,"
Senator Campbell said.
"This funding will be released based on an investment
plan to be re-submitted by South Australia identifying
water quantities and outcomes. It will be used for practical,
on-ground water delivery that will create a real difference
to the health of the River. Private water donors will
know there are funds available to get the donated water
out on to the floodplain where it is needed.
"As part of this funding, I will be asking the South
Australian Government to report back to me on what progress
has been made in relation to improvements in the health
of the river."
Senator Campbell said this was one of a number of measures
the Australian Government had taken recently to address
the declining health of the River Murray. These include:
• $1 million in joint funding from the Australian and
Victorian Governments to water almost 2000 hectares of
River Red Gum habitat to save distressed and dying trees
• $1.5 million committed by the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial
Commission, which is partially funded by the Australian
Government, to inundate 4,700 hectares of River Red Gums
at 60 sites along the Murray in Victoria, New South Wales
and South Australia.
The Australian Government also welcomed the recent decision
by Victoria and New South Wales to provide an environmental
flood to protect the world's largest River Red Gum forest,
which straddles the River Murray at Echuca-Moama.
"The River Murray is an iconic part of the Australian
landscape and the Australian Government is committed to
restoring it to health," Senator Campbell said. |
