Joint Media release
- 14 September 2008 - The Great Barrier
Reef will benefit from an additional $7.5
million in funding through the Australian
Government's Caring for our Country initiative,
Environment Minister Peter Garrett and Agriculture
Minister Tony Burke said today.
"The $7.5 million
in funding we're announcing today is on
top of the $23 million we announced last
month for Reef Rescue, and will provide
a further boost to efforts to protect the
health of the Reef particularly as it battles
the impacts of a changing climate,"
Mr Garrett said in Cairns today.
Mr Garret said up to
$4.5 million would go towards monitoring
water quality in rivers and wetlands, monitoring
and encouraging improvements in land management
and land condition throughout the catchment,
and looking at marine water quality and
ecosystem health.
"A further $2 million
will go to trialling new technologies that
improve water quality in the catchment and
for developing and applying new water quality
monitoring techniques for nutrients, chemicals
and sediments," Mr Garrett said.
"Partnerships with
traditional owners will see up to $1 million
over this financial year go towards improving
sea country management, helping to conserve
such species as turtle and dugong,"
Mr Garrett said.
Minister Burke said
the Rudd Labor Government was working to
improve the quality of water flowing into
the Reef lagoon which is critical to the
its capacity to resist coral bleaching.
"Farmers are already
leading the way in sustainable land management
across Australia and this funding will help
to continue that good work," Mr Burke
said.
"Works to be funded
in the reef catchment range from improving
nutrient and chemical application on farms,
using controlled traffic farming and machinery
conversions, fencing off waterways, and
improving management and community understanding
of habitats on the coast and in the waters
of the reef lagoon."
"We've asked the
regional Natural Resource Management groups,
in partnership with agricultural industry
groups and the World Wildlife Fund in the
Reef catchment, to come up with projects
for the current financial year based on
an indicative budget for their region. We'll
be considering these projects in the next
month."
The funding will benefit
the Mackay Whitsunday region, Terrain region,
Burdekin Dry Tropics region, Fitzroy Basin
region, Burnett region and Cape York region.
"Other Rudd Government
projects funded in the reef catchment through
Caring for our Country include catchment
improvement works on farms and their associated
catchment areas," Mr Burke said.
"These works will
see land managers from all areas including
primary producers from the sugar, grazing,
horticulture and dairy sectors working with
industry groups, regional natural resource
management groups and conservation organisations
to improve water quality flowing into the
reef.
"They range from
improving grazing management on farms through
enhancing wetlands functionality and improving
waterway health, to raising community understanding
and use of coastal fish habitats and other
coastal environmental assets."
The Rudd Government
has earmarked $200 million for Reef Rescue,
out of the $2.25 billion it has committed
over five years for Caring for our Country.
For more information visit www.nrm.gov.au
+ More
Making cents from energy
efficiency this Sustainable House Day
11 September 2008 -
Sustainable House Day this weekend will
provide Australians with an opportunity
to see first hand how they can save energy,
money and tackle carbon pollution by making
changes around the house, Environment Minister
Peter Garrett said today.
Mr Garrett said more
than 100 homes would be open across the
country, showcasing the latest in practical
and cost-effective energy and water efficient
technology.
"Making changes
around the home, like switching to energy
efficient light globes, installing more
efficient appliances, glazing, insulation
and hot water systems, can make a real difference
to your hip pocket and the amount of carbon
pollution your home contributes.
"Featuring both
new and renovated properties retrofitted
with the latest technology, Sustainable
House Day has something for everyone -whether
you're looking to build a new house or improve
your existing home.
"The Australian
Government has already committed more than
$1 billion to a range of programs designed
to help householders and the community improve
energy and water efficiency.
"This includes
the $300 million Green Loans scheme which
will commence next year, the Low-Emission
Plan for Renters, which will provide rebates
for landlords to install energy-efficient
insulation in rental homes and the National
Solar Schools Program for which over 10000
schools have already registered for grants
of up to $50,000.
"We'll also be
detailing further measures, informed by
the outcomes of roundtables I've recently
held around the country, in the transition
to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
to help households take practical action
to reduce energy usage, save on energy bills
and made a real contribution to tackling
climate change.
"Until now, national
energy efficiency policy has been fragmented
and uncoordinated with International Energy
Agency indicators showing Australia's improvements
in energy efficiency between 11000 and 2005
lagged well behind other OECD countries.
We will redress the neglect of the last
twelve years and help all Australians contribute
to tackling climate change."
A list of the houses,
schools and businesses that will be open
on the 13th and 14th of September 2008 is
available at http://www.sustainablehouseday.com
