The McGowan Government will provide $7.5 million to support 96 community projects to protect and restore Western Australia’s highly-valued environmental assets.
The Community Stewardship Grants program will provide funding to support diverse project activities ranging from coastal and wetlands rehabilitation, restoration of wildlife corridors and protecting endangered native fauna, to invasive weed removal and feral predator control.
Premier Mark McGowan and Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan announced the funding today in the Chapman Valley catchment near Geraldton, where a $300,000 grant to the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council will support a natural sequence farming program to regenerate and rehydrate productive farmland in the Mid-West.
Other successful projects include a study by Noongar people of cool burn technique for land management in the Great Southern; protecting the red-tailed phascogale which is declining in numbers and building shellfish reefs to restore water quality, fisheries and biodiversity in the Peel-Harvey Estuary.
For a full list of 2020 State NRM Community Stewardship Grant recipients visit https://www.nrm.wa.gov.au
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“My Government is investing heavily in on-the-ground action to improve, protect and strengthen our natural environment.
“These grants are supporting schools, local farming community groups, NRM, landcare groups and local governments right across WA to deliver real improvements to their environment.”
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“Natural resource management is a key tool in addressing climate change and loss of biodiversity through local action.
“Grants through the State Natural Resource Management Program provide valuable support to community groups, many of them volunteers, who are dedicated to caring for their land, water and biodiversity assets.”
As stated by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
“WA’s natural environment can be protected and enhanced by utilising the local knowledge and enthusiasm of community-based groups to achieve targeted and meaningful on-ground action.
“The great work to be carried out through these grants will enhance Western Australia’s unique biodiversity and improve outcomes for threatened species.”
As stated by Water Minister Dave Kelly:
“The preservation and restoration of waterways feature in many projects, highlighting the importance of water assets to local communities.
“For example, the Leschenault Catchment Council Inc will use funding to develop a management plan for the Preston River foreshore at Donnybrook, which has undergone substantial environmental degradation over time, yet continues to provide significant environmental, cultural and recreational values to the community and the river ecosystem.”
