20
November 2008 - The Rudd Government is investing
more than $6.5 million for a range of water
saving and water treatment projects in the
southern tablelands of New South Wales as
part of its $12.9 billion Water for the
Future plan.
Minister for Climate
Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, joined
Member for Eden-Monaro, Dr Mike Kelly, in
Bungendore today to announce the funding.
These projects will
have a significant impact on water supplies
and water quality in the towns of Berridale,
Braidwood, Bungendore, Tumut and Nimmitabel,
Senator Wong said.
These projects will
support our Water for the Future plan, which
aims to secure our water supplies, use water
wisely, tackle climate change and support
healthy rivers.
The funding being committed
today will help these towns make their existing
water infrastructure more efficient or find
new sources of water supply.
Dr Kelly said the projects
included $3.3 million for Braidwood Sewage
Treatment, which honours a Government election
commitment to urgently fix Braidwoods sewerage
system.
This funding is being
matched by NSW which provides a great example
of different levels of government working
together to support rural and regional Australia,
Dr Kelly said.
Residents of Braidwood
will also benefit from $700,000 in funding
for the Braidwood Water Supply project which
will bring the towns water supply in line
with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
and reduce the incidence of algal blooms.
Another project will
help the growing population in Bungendore
which has stretched the current water supply
to its limit.
The Government has committed
$1 million to support the construction of
a water supply system that will increase
annual capacity from 322 megalitres to 500
megalitres, Dr Kelly said.
Meanwhile, the $500,000
Tumut Golf Course effluent re-use scheme
will have a direct environmental benefit
for the Tumut River, saving more than 75
megalitres of fresh water that would be
have been used to irrigate the golf course.
Additional information
on the projects, funded from the Water Smart
Australia program under Water for the Future,
is attached.
+ More
$28.5 million for new
environment and sustainable farming projects
20 November 2008 - The
Rudd Government today announced more than
$28.5 million in funding to support 137
local and community groups with environmental
and sustainable farming projects under Caring
for our Country.
Environment Minister,
Peter Garrett and Minister for Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke, said
grants of between $80,000 and $400,000 would
assist catchment management bodies, farmer
and community groups, universities and industry
organisations.
Projects will include
work to protect endangered species in the
Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia; manage
weeds in the Fitzroy Basin in Western Australia;
improve soil carbon storage, restore seabird
habitat on Montague Island off the coast
of NSW, protect platypus in Tasmania and
protect turtles in Arnhem Land.
The package includes
more than $5.5 million for sustainable farming
practices; $8.9 million for Landcare projects;
more than $7.3 million for biodiversity
and natural icons, more than $5.7 million
for coasts and critical aquatic habitats
and more than $1.1 million for other projects.
“These 137 grants, part
of the Rudd Government’s $2.25 billion commitment
to Caring for our Country, will lead to
significant environmental benefits and advances
in land management practices in all states
and territories,” Mr Garrett said.
“Through Caring for
our Country, the Government is taking a
comprehensive, targeted and integrated approach
to natural resource management funding,
encouraging organisations to work together
to deliver on national priorities.
“Many projects funded
through this Open Grants scheme look beyond
their local environmental issues to link
up with others to deliver better environment
and land management practices on a larger
scale.
“For example, the Murrumbidgee
Catchment Management Authority’s project
Murray Mouth to Mountains Ecosystem Corridors
will bring together ten catchment management
organisations along the length of the Murray
River. They will work together to build
on and create links of native vegetation
between the river and the ridgeline areas
from the Murray mouth in South Australia,
through NSW, Victoria and the Australian
Capital Territory to the recently National
Heritage Listed Australian Alps.”
The ministers said climate
change and other pressures such as invasive
weeds and pests underlined the need for
the Government to continue to work in partnership
with communities to help ensure the future
of Australia’s environment and farming industries.
Minister Burke said
Australia’s farmers were world-leaders in
sustainable land management and the funding
would help them to continue their environmental
work.
“Our farmers understand
the harsh Australian environment and the
need to look after our precious landscape,”
Mr Burke said.
“These grants allow
local projects to build on farmers’ good
work.
“Through Caring for
our Country, the Government continues to
recognise that work and provide funding
support so it can continue.
“One example is a project
in the northern agricultural region of Western
Australia to encourage the planting of the
native shrub melaleuca, to minimise the
effects of salinity on farms.
“This will provide both
biodiversity benefits including lowering
the water table and revegetation of land
affected by salinity.
“At the same time, prunings
from the melaleuca trees can be harvested
for brushwood fencing material. This is
a win for both the environment and farmers,”
Mr Burke said.
“We look forward to
working together to secure a sustainable,
resilient and productive environment for
all Australians to share.”
Further information
and a full listing of successful grants
is available at www.nrm.gov.au
