11 May
2006 - Hard-working community groups and individuals
will carry on the fight to protect our natural
resources in 2006-07 thanks to $20 million from
the Australian Government Envirofund.
Acting Australian Minister for
the Environment and Heritage, and Minister for
Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, Senator
Eric Abetz, today said the Federal Budget included
a multi-million dollar funding package for activities
to care for our land, rivers and coasts.
“This fantastic programme has
already provided over $90 million in support for
almost 6,000 projects across the country,” Senator
Abetz said.
“Today we reinforce our commitment
to the Envirofund with a further $20 million for
communities to continue tackling issues like salinity,
poor water quality, erosion and taking care of
native species.
“The Envirofund is the local
action component of the Australian Government’s
Natural Heritage Trust, and a part of the biggest
environmental rescue effort since federation.
“Each year we offer grants of
up to $50,000 to support a diverse range of projects,
from weeding and fencing bushland to trialing
new techniques for sustainable farming.
“It’s about getting money where it’s needed most
– to the people who have the local knowledge,
expertise and enthusiasm to deliver results.
“In my home state of Tasmania,
for example, the Cooee to Camdale Coastcare Group
has used some of its funding to build nests for
Little Penguins on Burnie beach.
“Over in Western Australia the
students of Boyanup Primary School have been restoring
a weed-infested riverbank behind the school.
Senator Abetz said many landholders
had benefitted from Envirofund support.
“Farmers are really leading the way on natural
resource management, and we’ll do everything we
can to help them,” he said.
“Last year we provided funding
for a special Drought Round for people to undertake
projects to protect land, water and plants and
animals from the impacts of drought.
“South Australia’s Besanko Pastoral
Company received more than $20,000 to stabilise
and stop sheep grazing on the banks of a severley
damaged waterway on the family property.
“Up north, Queensland landholders
in Kin Kin, near Noosa, were able to weed and
replant some of the few remaining areas of rainforest
in the area.
“These are just a few examples
of the thousands of projects we fund each and
every year, and I look forward to seeing what
Australians can achieve in 2006-07.”
Round 8 applicants affected
by Cyclone Larry or the recent Katherine floods
still have until 19 May to apply for funding.
All other proposals were submitted by 28 April.
For more information about the Envirofund visit
www.nht.gov.au/envirofund.
