The Brumby Government has announced $35 million for land, biodiversity, native vegetation and salinity control projects across Victoria in 2008/09 including $4.2 million for the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority.
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said the funding is for a range of projects that are part of a larger Government commitment of $80 million for regional Victoria.
“The Brumby Government is taking action to protect our catchments in Western Victoria and help communities to address the legacy of past damage to our land and water systems,” Ms Tierney said.
“We’re helping to protect biodiversity in the western Victoria, driving projects that benefit ecosystems and communities.
The Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority project Includes:
– $860,000 for Sustainable Rural Landscapes;
– $420,000 for Landcare;
– $369,000 for Native Vegetation;
– and $1,589,000 for Natural Resources Investment Program.
“This year the CMAs across Victoria will protect and rehabilitate more than 160,000 hectares of land for biodiversity.
“This will include conservation agreements with landholders to protect native bush, and putting up protective fencing for native vegetation along waterways and within farmland.
“By assisting the Glenelg Hopkins CMA to protect and enhance habitat, we’re also protecting the threatened plants and animals that live in our catchments as well as tackling salinity, erosion and weeds.
“The CMAs do a great job by delivering environmental improvements and forging effective partnerships with local communities.
“We understand the challenges CMAs face, particularly with changes to Federal Government funding,” Ms Tierney said.
The Brumby Government is the major source of funding to CMAs and will continue to support their invaluable work amid changes to the Commonwealth’s contributions.
Many of the projects receiving State Government funding are run in partnership with other funding programs, or with landholders and groups that supply additional money or labour, all adding up to contributions worth millions more.
The organisations that deliver the projects include community and landholder groups, CMAs, non-government organisations, the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI).
“Each CMA region has a community-driven catchment investment plan, providing the ‘big-picture’ direction for the hundreds of projects we’re helping to fund,” Mr Jennings said.