Gillard Labor Government Improving the Health of Local Coasts and Waterways
Alannah MacTiernan,Peter Garrett
posted Thursday, 5 August 2010
The Gillard Labor Government will invest $3.1 million in supporting communities along the Western Australian coastline to protect and conserve their local environment and in water quality improvements for the Peel-Harvey Estuary, the Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar wetland and other local waterways.
The funds were announced today by the Environment Protection Minister, Peter Garrett, and Federal Labor candidate for Canning, Alannah MacTiernan.
“Locals love the Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary and fishing and boating are very popular here. This commitment from the Gillard Government is a critical step in protecting the waterways that are at the core of this community," Alannah MacTiernan said.
“West Australians want to be sure that our beaches and oceans are well managed and this funding appropriately supports the local communities that are making their contribution to those efforts.”
Peter Garrett said, “right throughout WA volunteers and community groups are working hard on local projects to protect and improve the health of their local environment, from the coastline to the local creek or wetland.”
“Here in Canning, the Peel-Harvey Estuary is an important recreational haven for people and the Peel-Yalgorup system is one of the most important areas for waterbirds in south-western Australia,” Peter Garrett said.
“But as a fast growing region, both are under pressure, including from increased runoff from both rural and urban parts of the catchment.
“Today I am pleased to commit of $1.5 million to help improve water quality throughout this system by implementing key elements of the Peel-Harvey Water Quality Improvement Plan, including restoring native vegetation around wetlands and natural waterways so they more effectively filter out nutrients and keep the waters clear.
“I am also pleased to announce $1.5m for the Coastwest program, supporting the excellent work of communities throughout WA in caring for local beaches and coastal areas.
“This funding will extend the current Coastwest state-wide grant scheme and help local communities get the resources they need to care for their stretch of the coast,” Peter Garrett said.
“The Gillard Government has committed $20 million annually from the Caring for our Country program for Community Coastcare and we continue to deliver that funding to coastal communities around Australia.
“The Coastwest program has been very successful and this new investment will allow it to provide grants of up to $150,000 to community groups, including Indigenous groups, so they can rehabilitate, restore and conserve the WA coastal zone.
Mr Garrett also announced $81,490 for the eradication of two weeds of national significance - boneseed and willows - from several locations in southern Western Australia including the Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar site. This funding will be delivered by the Perth Region NRM working with multiple partners across five regions.
The funding support is included in the budget and is part of the Government’s $2 billion in environment protection and natural resource management around the nation through the Caring for our Country program.
Caring for our Country is jointly administered by Minister Garrett and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke.
The Peel-Harvey Water Quality Improvement Plan was finalised in 2008 and this funding will be delivered by the WA Department of Water in conjunction with the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council and working with community organisations such as the South West Catchments Council.
Today’s Coastwest funding from the Gillard Government of $1.5 million over two years will be supplemented with $1 million from the WA Planning Commission, who manage the Coastwest program.
It is expected that projects will range through WA’s five natural resource management regions that border the coast - Perth, South West, South Coast, Rangelands and Northern Agricultural.
Tags: Alannah, Coastal, Garrett, MacTiernan, Peter, waterways