20 November 2008
DAFF08/163BJ
Joint Media Release
The Hon Peter Garrett MP
Australian Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
The Hon. Tony Burke MP
Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
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/projects/open-grants.html
Media contacts: Ben Pratt (Minister Garrett): 0419 968 734
Ann-Marie Wilcock (Minister Burke): 0413 872 275
Projects Funded
National or Multistate
Landcare
Project Title |
Group |
Funding |
|---|---|---|
|
Sustainable Milk Production Model for the Northern Dairy Industry |
Queensland Dairyfarmers' Organisation Limited |
$152,273 |
|
Maximising Nutrient Use Efficiency and Improving Soil Health in the Processing Tomato Industry |
Australian Processing Tomato Research Council Inc |
$141,279 |
|
Strategic Management of Serrated Tussock - Reducing Threats to Sustainable Farming |
Snowy River Interstate Landcare Committee Inc. |
$143,460 |
|
Australian Wine Industry Stewardship Environmental Assurance Program |
Winemakers' Federation of Australia Inc. |
$241,982 |
|
Australian Pastoral Property Innovation Manual |
Rural Directions Trust |
$192,182 |
|
Sustainable Piggery Effluent Utilisation in Australian Farming Systems |
Australian Pork Limited |
$127,955 |
|
Protecting the Northern Territory from Rubber Vine incursion |
Roper River Landcare Group Inc |
$158,500 |
|
Sustainable Practice - Development of the Horticulture Recognition Framework |
Horticulture Australia Limited |
$239,326 |
|
Do It with Dung - from the Mountains to the Murray |
Kiewa Catchment Landcare Group |
$253,023 |
|
Enhancing Adoption of Best Practice Grazing Management in Northern Australia: Phase 1 - Integration and Scenario Testing |
Meat & Livestock Australia Limited |
$299,795 |
|
A Responsible Lead - Laying the Foundations of the Grains Industry Environmental Plan |
Grains Research and Development Corporation |
$363,636 |
|
Seanet East- the Environmental Fisheries Extension Program for Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria |
Oceanwatch Australia Ltd |
$398,545 |
|
Developing Sustainable Production Systems, Resilient to Climate Change - Baselining |
Avongro Wheatbelt Tree Cropping Incorporated |
$399,682 |
Other
Project Title |
Group |
Funding |
|---|---|---|
|
Prickly Acacia Outlier Control in Northwest Queensland and South Australia |
Southern Gulf Catchments Limited |
$120,750 |
|
National Online Database for Weed Risk Assessment |
Department of Primary Industries |
$138,218 |
|
National Guidelines for Minimising Waterway infestations of Chilean Needle Grass - Filling a Major Gap in Knowledge and Advice |
Victoria University |
$85,000 |
|
Woodland Bird Conservation Project |
Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union |
$301,909 |
|
The Great Toad Muster and National Cane Toad Eradication Week |
Stop the Toad Foundation (Inc.) |
$150,273 |
|
EMU - Empowering Pastoralists to Manage for Sustainable and Productive Landscapes |
Natural Resource Management Board (NT) Incorporated |
$201,500 |
|
Upper Murrumbidgee Demonstration Reach |
Territory and Municipal Services |
$274,636 |
|
Protecting and Restoring Arid Rivers from Invasive Athel Pine (Tamarix Spp) |
Department of Primary Industries and Resources |
$360,235 |
|
A National Market Based instrument for Feral Camel Control |
National Rangelands NRM Alliance |
$397,727 |
|
The Threatened Bird Network |
Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union |
$135,000 |
|
Harnessing Continent-Wide Biodiversity Datasets for Prioritising National Conservation Investment |
Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation |
$95,742 |
New South Wales
Landcare
Project Title |
Group |
Funding |
|
Yowrie Valley Biodiversity Enhancement and Sustainable Farming Program |
Yowrie Valley Landcare Group |
$82,273 |
|
Farmer Targets for Climate Change - New South Wales Mid North Coast |
Dairy Advancement Group |
$131,700 |
|
Climate Priorities - Stocktake and Priority Setting for Broadacre Irrigation in the New South Wales Riverina |
Ricegrowers Association of Australia |
$185,500 |
|
Horticulture For Tomorrow - Taking Stock of the Environmental Impacts of Horticultural Production in Australia |
Horticulture Australia Limited |
$93,000 |
Other
Project Title |
Group |
Funding |
|
Kalare (Lachlan) River Willow Eradication and Management Project |
Lachlan Aboriginal Natural Resource Management Corporation |
$362,633 |
|
Conservation of Remnant Vegetation on Travelling Stock Reserves |
Lachlan Catchment Management Authority |
$400,000 |
|
Saving Island Ecology - Eradication of Weeds from Lord Howe Island |
Lord Howe Island Board |
$363,636 |
|
Protecting our Migratory Shorebirds and Seabirds |
Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority |
$248,140 |
|
Fishtrack: Fish Movement and Effects of Flows and Barriers |
Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority |
$328,124 |
|
Enhancing Riparian Biodiversity and Habitat for Threatened Species in The Upper Murray |
Murray Catchment Management Authority |
$318,636 |
|
Resilient Riverine Landscapes Below World Heritage Areas |
Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority |
$90,909 |
|
Riparian Management in the Yanco Creek System |
The Yanco Creek and Tributaries Advisory Council |
$363,636 |
|
Protecting Values Associated with the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area |
Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority |
$331,182 |
|
Strategic Bitou Bush Control to Protect Biodiversity in NSW |
Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (NRCMA) |
$400,000 |
|
Pulling Rock-Wallabies From an Extinction Vortex |
World Wide Fund For Nature Australia |
$273,619 |
|
Restoring Lowland Rainforest in the NSW North Coast Bioregion |
Big Scrub Rainforest Landcare Group Inc. |
$368,309 |
|
Seabird Habitat Restoration Project - Montague Island Nature Reserve |
Department of Environment and Climate Change |
$72,818 |
|
Protection and Enhancement of Biodiversity on Nanya Station |
University of Ballarat |
$129,094 |
|
Eradicating Rodents from Lord Howe Island |
Lord Howe Island Board |
$200,509 |
|
Saving our Swamps: National Restoration Program for Temperate Peat Swamps |
Blue Mountains City Council |
$364,518 |
Victoria
Landcare
Project Title |
Group |
Funding |
|
Reducing Wild Dog Impacts on Agriculture through Enhanced Community Participation |
Wild Dog Management Groups |
$157,273 |
|
Farming for a Sustainable Future - Demonstrating Best Farm Practices |
Lake Wellington Landcare Network |
$113,273 |
|
East Gippsland Soil Carbon Project - Pilot Project |
Agribusiness Gippsland Inc |
$158,455 |
|
Compost Use in Sustainable Agriculture |
William Grant |
$101,236 |
|
Improving the Efficacy of Hydrogen Phosphide (Ph3) Fumigation for Rabbit Control |
Frank Gigliotti |
$135,909 |
|
Development of Multi-Dose Ejector for the Control of Foxes |
Frank Gigliotti |
$338,068 |
Other
Project Title |
Group |
Funding |
|
Establishing Sustainable Perennial Pastures Systems in the Upper Wimmera Catchment |
Project Platypus Association Incorporated |
$100,909 |
|
Conservation Management Networks in Gippsland: Protection of Sustainable Farming and Biodiverse Ecosytems |
East Gippsland Rainforest Conservation |
$363,636 |
|
Strzelecki Warm Temperate Rainforest Restoration - Macks Creek Catchment |
Grand Ridge Plantations Pty Ltd |
$211,359 |
|
Gunbower Creek Riparian and Aquatic Habitat Reconnection and Restoration Project |
North Central Catchment Management Authority |
$363,445 |
|
Wedderburn Restoration for Malleefowl and Woodland Birds |
Wedderburn Conservation Management Network |
$80,382 |
|
Strategic Vegetation Linkages on the East Gippsland Red Gum Plains |
Department of Sustainability and Environment |
$270,621 |
|
Improving Biodiversity Outcomes in Existing Remnant Protection/Revegetation Sites |
Maffra & Districts Landcare Network |
$100,091 |
|
"Strengthening Bioregional Landscape Connectivity in the Mid-Loddon Sub-Catchment" |
Mid-Loddon Sub-Catchment Group |
$241,479 |
|
Strengthening Northern Melbourne's Merri Corridor for Flora, Fauna and People. |
Merri Creek Management Committee Inc |
$81,236 |
|
Saving Critically Endangered Grassland on the Victorian Volcanic Plain |
Department of Sustainability and Environment |
$199,486 |
Queensland
Landcare
Project Title |
Group |
Funding |
|
Integrated Management Practices for Alternating Crops - Burdekin Region |
Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers |
$210,309 |
|
Queensland Grow Me Instead Project |
Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland Industrial Union of Employers |
$173,000 |
|
South East Queensland Sustainable Trees on Farms Program |
SEQ Catchments Ltd |
$106,500 |
|
Carbon – What Does it Means for Me on My Property |
Agforce Queensland Industrial Union of Employers |
$400,000 |
|
Transforming Sunshine Coast Caneland into Sustainable Biodiesel and Integrated Farming Enterprises |
Maroochy Land Care Group Inc |
$156,141 |
|
Educating Producers in Accessing and Utilising Spatial Information! |
Agforce Queensland Industrial Union of Employers |
$363,636 |
|
Reducing Emissions and Improving Carbon Levels in Southern Queensland Soils |
North East Downs Landcare Group Inc. |
$80,000 |
|
Macintyre Brook Sustainability Initiative |
Macintyre Brook Irrigators Association Incorporated |
$131,127 |
|
Encouraging Sustainable Farm Practices via Adoption of Grains Best Management Practices in Queensland |
Fitzroy Basin Association Inc. |
$194,778 |
|
Burdekin Bowen Integrated Farm Management Monitoring and Support Project |
Burdekin Bowen Integrated Floodplain Management Advisory Committee Inc |
$300,793 |
Other
Project Title |
Group |
Funding |
|
Realising a National Rangeland Monitoring Network “Vegmachine” |
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries |
$90,773 |
|
Restoring Wetland Function and Health of the Mungalla Wetland. |
Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation |
$267,401 |
|
Rehabilitating Burdekin's Billabongs and Bowling Green Bay Catchments |
Burdekin Solutions Ltd |
$189,727 |
|
Improving Connectivity and Biodiversity Values in Stanley and Pumicestone Headwaters |
SEQ Catchments Ltd |
$157,550 |
|
Delivering Wildlife Habitat Management Decision Support in the Brigalow Belt |
The University of Queensland |
$80,455 |
|
Landscape Connectivity in Queensland's Northern Brigalow Belt - A Biodiversity Hotspot |
Burdekin Solutions Ltd |
$398,455 |
|
Embracing Partnerships to Protect and Enhance Significant Remnant Vegetation |
Toowoomba Landcare Group Inc. |
$239,545 |
|
Granite Flora: Recovery in Action |
Queensland Murray-Darling Committee Inc. |
$158,091 |
|
Protecting Quolls in Queensland Landscapes |
Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland |
$101,656 |
|
Jointly Managing and Promoting the Bohle River, Louisa Creek, Town Common Catchment |
Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers |
$197,005 |
|
The Keys to Healthy Savanna Lands |
Northern Gulf Resource Management Group Limited |
$210,000 |
|
Rescuing a Gondwanaland Survivor: The Eastern Bristlebird Habitat Restoration Project |
Condamine Catchment Natural Resource Management Corporation Limited |
$218,636 |
|
South Burnett Regional Integrated Natural Resource Management Project |
South Burnett Regional Council |
$240,136 |
|
TKRP - Traditional Knowledge Revival Pathways |
Mulong Pty.Ltd |
$296,818 |
|
Fitzroy Basin Weed Management Strategy Implementation - Weeds of National Significance |
Capricorn Pest Management Group Inc |
$345,280 |
|
Bunya Biolink - Cooyar Creek Riparian Zone Rehabilitation |
Greening Australia (Queensland) Ltd |
$393,791 |
Western Australia
Landcare
Project Title |
Group |
Funding |
|
A Broadacre Approach to Certification of Sustainable Farm Practice |
Curtin University of Technology |
$219,000 |
|
Adopting Innovative Practices to Improve the Resilience of Farming Systems in the Northern and Eastern Wheatbelt of Western Australia |
Wheatbelt East Regional Organisation of Councils (Weroc) |
$273,182 |
|
Sustainable Production and Landscape Repair in Salinity-Affected, Water Supply Catchments |
Treenomics |
$149,718 |
|
Good Practice and Better Environmental Outcomes in Vegetable Production |
WA Vegetable Growers Association Inc |
$147,273 |
Other
Project Title |
Group |
Funding |
|
Enabling Martu to Preserve Biodiversity in the Western Desert |
Western Desert Lands Aboriginal Corporation |
$355,636 |
|
Increased Adoption of Sustainable Brushwood Production. |
Moore Catchment Council Inc |
$224,091 |
|
Best-Practice Mesquite Management in the Rangelands of Western Australia |
Pilbara Mesquite Management Committee Inc. |
$302,765 |
|
Taking 'Active Awareness' to the Regions |
Blackwood Basin Group Inc. |
$192,136 |
|
Protecting Critical Habitat for the Endangered Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo |
Birds Australia Western Australia Inc. |
$161,935 |
|
Rangelands Restoration - Restoring Native Mammal Diversity and Vegetation Condition in the Arid Zone Rangelands. |
Department of Environment and Conservation |
$220,909 |
|
Gouldian Finch Conservation through Indigenous Fire Management in East Kimberley |
Kimberley Land Council Aboriginal Corporation |
$99,000 |
|
Integrated Weed Management of Riparian Areas of the Kimberley |
Ord Land and Water Incorporated |
$147,273 |
|
A Strategic Regional Conservation Plan for Australia’s Global Biodiversity Hotspot |
World Wide Fund for Nature Australia |
$333,755 |
South Australia
Landcare
Project Title |
Group |
Funding |
|
Increasing Precision Agricultural Awareness and Adoption in South East South Australia |
Mackillop Farm Management Group Inc |
$86,835 |
Other
Project Title |
Group |
Funding |
|
Threatened Flora Recovery on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands |
Department for Environment and Heritage |
$178,746 |
|
Improving Natural Resource Management Outcomes in the Rangelands by Strategically Removing Feral Goats |
South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board |
$353,182 |
|
Managing and Controlling High-Risk Pest Plants on Kangaroo Island |
Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board |
$90,909 |
|
Mount Lofty Ranges Watershed Water Quality Improvement Plan Community Engagement |
Environment Protection Authority |
$136,364 |
|
Wildeyre - Collaborative, Landscape-Scale, Biodiversity Conservation on the Eyre Peninsula |
Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board |
$144,358 |
|
Arid Recovery: Developing New Partnerships to Restore Our Arid Lands |
Arid Recovery |
$90,845 |
|
Threatened Plant Action Group - Community Action to Recover South Australia's Threatened Flora |
Nature Conservation Society of South Australia |
$72,727 |
|
the Middleback Alliance - a Regional Conservation Initiative |
Ecological Horizons Pty Ltd |
$81,618 |
|
Involving Community in Conserving Threatened Species in the Angas River Catchment |
Angas River Catchment Group |
$103,990 |
|
Caring For Country with Fire in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands |
Anangu Pitjantjatjara Inc |
$123,886 |
|
ForestrySA Multi-Region Strategic Area and Habitat Restoration Project |
South Australian Forestry Corporation |
$135,000 |
|
Battling Boneseed in the Upper South East and Murray-Darling Basin of South Australia |
South East Natural Resources Management Board |
$156,191 |
|
Priority Onground Works to Protect The Endangered Mount Lofty Ranges Southern Emu-Wren (MLRSEW) and the Critically Endangered Fleurieu Peninsula Swamps |
Conservation Council of South Australia Incorporated |
$261,932 |
|
Supporting Local Government in Natural Resource Management Delivery Across the Northern and Yorke Region |
Central Local Government Region of South Australia Inc |
$286,364 |
Tasmania
Landcare
Project Title |
Group |
Funding |
|
Soil Biology - the Missing Link for Regenerative Production in Our Farming Systems |
L.R Young & R.J Young |
$94,821 |
|
Adoption of Sustainable Water Management on Tasmanian Vegetable Farms |
Rds Partners Pty Ltd |
$123,788 |
|
Protecting Tasmania's Sustainable Farming and Biodiversity Assets from Serrated Tussock Invasion |
Tasmanian Land & Water Professionals Pty Ltd |
$195,662 |
|
Using Landscape Ecology to Prioritise Property Management Actions in Tasmania |
Natural Resource Planning Pty Ltd |
$296,264 |
Other
Project Title |
Group |
Funding |
|
Control of Wons Outliers in Cradle Coast NRM Region, Tasmania |
Cradle Coast Authority |
$152,909 |
|
Soil Ecosystem Health Measures: An Interpretive Guide for Land Managers |
Department of Primary Industries and Water |
$111,123 |
|
Threatened Species Protection through Implementation of Coordinated Riverine Management Activities |
Northern Tasmanian Natural Resource Management Association Inc. |
$242,727 |
|
Progressing Nationally Strategic Control of Boneseed And Asparagus Weeds (WONS) in Southern Tasmania |
Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority |
$119,724 |
|
Platypus Disease Assessment and Conservation in Tasmania |
Department of Primary Industries and Water |
$229,600 |
Northern Territory
Landcare
Project Title |
Group |
Funding |
|
Scoping Future Scenarios and Building Innovative Partnerships for Northern Territory Pastoral Lands |
Northern Territory Cattleman's Association |
$327,602 |
|
Integration of Fire, Feral and Weed Management to Enhance Grazing Productivity, Top End Floodplains |
Northern Territory Cattleman's Association |
$75,432 |
|
Land Type Specific Sustainable Practice Guidelines for NT Pastoral Lands |
Northern Territory of Australia |
$81,295 |
|
Asset Protection Decision Support Tools for Pastoralists in Semi-Arid Landscapes. |
Barkly Landcare and Conservation Association Inc |
$129,910 |
Other
Project Title |
Group |
Funding |
|
Building Capacity to Establish a Parkinsonia Dieback Biological Control Model |
Victoria River District Conservation Association Incorporated |
$181,591 |
|
Healthy Pastures - Native Grasses and Fodder Trees in Production Systems |
Greening Australia (NT) Ltd. |
$167,500 |
|
Zero Toads - Community Control of Invasive Cane Toads in Darwin |
Darwin City Council |
$86,418 |
|
Conserving Turtles in Arnhem Land by Managing an Exotic Species |
Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation |
$134,637 |
|
Biodiversity Conservation Values and Management for Northern Territory Islands |
Northern Territory Department of Natural Resources Environment and The Arts |
$277,315 |
|
Managing the Cane Toad Menace in Tropical Savannas |
Riyala Assn Inc |
$118,636 |
|
Implementing Priority Recovery Actions for the Bilby and Other Key Threatened Species |
Central Land Council |
$156,282 |
|
Northern Territory off Reserve Sustainable Country Initiative - Building on the NRS |
Northern Territory of Australia |
$235,459 |
Australian Capital Territory
Project Title |
Group |
Funding |
|
Molonglo River Rescue |
Territory and Municipal Services |
$335,386 |
|
Ecosystems = Murray Mouth to Mountains Climate Change Corridors (E+M3C3) |
Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority |
$358,973 |