A project waging war on a destructive weed in the South-West and a dung beetle nursery on the south coast are among 76 projects funded in the McGowan Government’s latest round of Natural Resource Management grants.
The McGowan Government has allocated $8 million towards Community Stewardship and Community Collaboration Grants in 2021, supporting locally driven conservation projects right across the State.
Nature Conservation Margaret River Region will receive a Community Stewardship Grant of $341,967 towards its Arum Lily Blitz to halt the spread of the South African plant, which invades waterways and impacts native flora and fauna communities.
The funds will help co-ordinate the 2022-2024 offensive, including control activities, data collection, surveying and mapping the spread of the weed to guide continued management strategies.
Since 2019, more than 1,300 local landowners have joined the Blitz army to actively control arum lilies on their properties across more than 16,000 hectares, alongside volunteers from environmental groups working in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.
Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee at Denmark will receive $34,780 in matching funds to establish four dung beetle nurseries, to fill a gap in supplies during the cooler months, as part of an initiative using the insect to help stem nutrient flow in local waterways.
Dung beetles are also used by landholders in the district to improve soil health and agricultural production, reduce flies and internal parasites in livestock and retain water in the landscape.
Other successful large projects include examining the use of regenerative agriculture practices in the Carnarvon banana industry, improving the management and use of environmental data in the Pilbara’s Western Desert and redefining dryland salinity management in the Wheatbelt.
The small grants allocation features projects to raise awareness of brush-tailed phascogales in the Perth Hills, erosion control of the Bibbulmun Track in the Great Southern and South-West, mapping dieback on the south coast and protecting seabirds from marine debris on the Houtman Abrolhos Islands.
Community Collaboration Grants have been allocated to two community groups to improve feral animal management in the Great Southern and an investment in drought refuges to protect threatened freshwater species in the Metropolitan, Peel and Wheatbelt regions.
For a full list of Community Collaboration and Stewardship Grants visit https://www.nrm.gov.au/
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“Local groups play a massive role in protecting and restoring our natural environment, and the McGowan Government is continuing to deliver on our commitment to support their important activities.
“The Arum Lily Blitz is an example of how local leadership from Nature Conservation Margaret River Region and support from the State Government can have a big impact on stopping the spread of an environment scourge.
“I salute the Blitz Army and the other grant recipients, who are delivering on-the-ground change across the State, from improving soil health to mitigating weeds and other pests, to enhancing the condition and sustainability of our natural resource assets.”
As stated by Water Minister Dave Kelly:
“Waterways and marine environments are important part of natural resource management in Western Australia and I am delighted our Community Stewardship and Community Collaboration Grants empower local groups and volunteers to protect our unique natural assets.
“I am particularly pleased to see continued support for water projects, like the eco-education at Katanning’s Piesse Park, rehydrating the mulga floodplains on Yuin Station in the Murchison and catchment rehabilitation of the Bannister Creek in the Canning community.”
As stated by Environment Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
“For 12 years, this unique natural resource management grants program has been empowering communities throughout WA to collaborate with government and industry in protecting their local environment.
“The range of grants, like conserving bird habitats on Wheatbelt farms, protecting endangered fauna in the Perth Hills and critically endangered possums in the South-West, to raising awareness about Kimberley shorebirds, reflects our Government’s commitment to maintaining and enhancing WA’s vast and diverse environment.”
Agriculture and Food Minister’s office – 6552 6200
