Media Statement - 4th December 2008
As part of Coastcare week, the Rudd Government has announced $22.5 million in funds to
benefit more than 400 local and community groups on the nation’s coastline.
The funding comes under the Rudd Government’s $2.25 billion Caring for our Country Community Coastcare program and will support projects including:
- surveying the coastal and underwater marine environments of south-eastern Australia;
- reducing threats to fish habitats in Queensland’s Burdekin Dry Tropics;
- protecting and rehabilitating the habitat of migratory shorebirds in Victoria;
- protecting at-risk species from the impact of increased human activity along Western
- Australia’s Kimberley coast; and
- supporting Indigenous communities as they undertake scientific monitoring of threatened sea turtles off the Northern Territory coast.
Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister, Tony Burke, said the package includes more than $10 million for 349 small grants worth up to $50,000 each and more than $12.5 million for 72 larger-scale projects targeted to national environmental priorities.
“This $22.5 million investment will help community groups and volunteers, Indigenous groups, catchment management bodies, universities and other research organisations and local, state and federal government agencies right around the nation to protect fish and coastal migratory bird habitat, threatened species and support important research,” Mr Garrett said.
“Through Caring for our Country, the Government is taking a comprehensive, targeted and integrated approach to natural resource management funding, encouraging individuals and organisations to work together to achieve its national priorities.
“As with the recently announced Open Grants, many of the projects funded through Community Coastcare look beyond their local environmental issues to link up with others to take a more collaborative approach.”
Mr Burke said farmers and commercial and recreational fishers were among the groups to benefit from the Community Coastcare funding.
“The Rudd Government recognises that our farmers, fishers and Landcare groups are already involved in important work to improve water quality, fish stocks, vegetation and more,” Mr Burke said.
“With this funding support, they can continue that work in partnership with other community and industry groups.
“For example, the funding will help groups such as South Stradbroke Island Landcare, which will restore 176 hectares of native vegetation on the island.
“Professional bush regenerators managed by the Gold Coast City Council will lead the work and train local residents and volunteers to manage the island’s vegetation and restore and protect areas damaged by vehicles and past clearing and sand mining.”
Further information and a full listing of successful Community Coastcare grants is available at www.nrm.gov.au