Minister joins locals to celebrate oil spill restoration success
Chris Cummins,Peter Garrett
posted Friday, 23 July 2010
Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett and Labor Candidate for Fisher, Chris Cummins, today joined volunteers to celebrate the success of the Moreton Bay Oil Spill Environmental Restoration Program.
Peter Garrett said the hard work following the initial clean-up of the spill, including the removal of around 3,000 tonnes of sand, was a major feat.
“The effort involved over 2,500 people and quickly progressed to longer term remediation and restoration efforts,” said Peter Garrett.
“At times of adversity Australians have a great capacity to pull together, roll up their sleeves and get things done. The response to the Moreton Bay spill was a great example of that commitment.
“The Gillard Labor Government was pleased to provide $2 million of support through the Caring for our Country program to the Moreton Bay Oil Spill Environmental Restoration Program.
“This funding supported rehabilitation and restoration works in this beautiful and internationally recognised part of the country and I applaud the efforts of everyone involved.
“Under the leadership of South East Queensland Catchments, who coordinated funding for community and volunteer groups, we’ve seen wonderful work in revegetation, weed removal, pest management and efforts to support ecosystem recovery. The results are there for all to see.
“There have also been some great side benefits including better integration and understanding of traditional knowledge through engagement with over 110 Traditional Owners,” said Chris Cummins, Labor Candidate for Fisher.
“And thanks to a visit from ‘Nifty’ the cane toad detection dog, Moreton Island is confirmed as toad free, which is great news,” said Chris Cummins.
Peter Garrett said Natural Resource Management organisations like South East Queensland Catchments, play a critical role in helping to protect our unique environment right around the country including through the delivery of the Government’s $2 billion Caring for our Country program.
“In the International Year of Biodiversity the Gillard Labor Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that we do all we can to ensure a resilient environment and protection of our important environmental assets,” said Peter Garrett.
‘The Gillard Labor Government has a proud record of delivering on environmental issues from unprecedented investment in the Great Barrier Reef, to the quadrupling of support for the National Reserve System, and investment in our Indigenous Protection Areas and Indigenous Rangers. It is one we look forward to continuing.”
Tags: Barrier, Biodiversitt, Environment, Great, Reef