Native plants and animals in Western Sydney are set to thrive with more than $1 million invested as an early action of the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, and Minister for Trade and Industry Stuart Ayres said the funding would be provided to Deerubbin, Tharawal and Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) to support cultural conservation efforts.
“There is more than 60,000 years of continuous Aboriginal connection to the land of Western Sydney, so it’s vital we draw on this deep knowledge to protect the area’s unique native plants and animals,” Mr Ayres said.
“Our conservation plan and partnership with the Local Aboriginal Land Councils will ensure the ancient woodlands of the Cumberland Plain thrive for many generations to come.”
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the city’s west is home to a large and diverse Aboriginal community rich in history and culture and this grant would enable cultural conservation to build a legacy for the future.
“This funding will support these communities to care for Country in a way that recognises their strong connection, knowledge and custodianship to the land,” Mr Stokes said.
“There is an abundance of native animals and plants in Western Sydney, which is why the conservation plan and our partnership with the Local Aboriginal Land Councils are so important.”
The $1 million grant program – funded by the NSW Government – is being delivered in partnership with the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) as an early action of the Cumberland Plain Conversation Plan.
NSWALC Councillor for the Sydney/Newcastle Region Abie Wright said the grant funding would support the LALCs to deliver early cultural and conservation outcomes on their lands.
“LALC lands in Western Sydney often have land-use legacies that require expensive assessment and investment to prepare for future sustainable conservation management,” Cr Wright said.
“I’m heartened by the Government’s investment to support the LALCs with their conservation endeavours and amplify capacity and leadership in local cultural management projects.”
The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment is currently developing a 10- year strategy in partnership with Western Sydney’s Aboriginal community under the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan.
