Funding for revegetation projects in SW Agricultural Region

26/9/97

Primary Industry Minister Monty House today announced funding of more than $43,000 for projects in the South West Agricultural Region as part of more than $700,000 worth of grants allocated under the State Revegetation Scheme.

Mr House said the aim of the scheme was to support large-scale and strategic revegetation projects which addressed land conservation problems and helped to achieve sustainable land use.

"The State Revegetation Scheme was established to support on-ground works and help community landcare groups to increase their landcare efforts through implementing vegetation components of regional catchment plans," he said.

"The scheme reflects the State Government's emphasis on the importance of local planning and delivery in landcare projects."

Mr House said there was widespread acceptance in the farming community that vegetation played a vital role in addressing land problems and in helping to achieve sustainable farming systems throughout the State.

"Many landcare groups have undertaken catchment and regional plans to protect and regenerate remnant vegetation," he said.

"Those groups are now confronting the challenging task of scaling up their efforts.

"The State Revegetation Scheme provides funds to assist land conservation district committees, catchment groups, other community groups and individual landholders to achieve revegetation goals.

"The successful projects are excellent examples of partnerships between farmers, Government and the general community."

Applications for the State Revegetation Scheme were assessed by regional assessment panels of the Soil and Land Conservation Council, with the funding being provided by the State Government.

Mr House said funding to projects in the South West Agricultural Region included:

·      revegetation of the Upper Boongadoo Catchment, Stage 3 ($42,870) - to increase vegetation in the Boongadoo catchment near Katanning and contribute to the Blackwood Land Conservation Strategy.

Projects in other regions to receive funding were:

·      East Three Springs Catchment Revegetation Project ($74,100);

·      West Ballidu Revegetation Project ($41,032);

·      road verge revegetation - Mullewa to Mingenew Road ($6,000);

·      revegetating the Irwin River ($48,149);

·      South Stirling Mountain to Coast Vegetation ($85,372);

·      creating Flora and Fauna Corridors ($3,900);

·      Nightwell Wildlife Corridor Project ($11,926);

·      Kosaneerup Springs Catchment - Mountains to Coast Corridor ($1,500);

·      preservation and Restoration of Woodland and Freshwater Wetland ($1,365);

·      expansion of Hotham Catchments revegetation ($73,180);

·      Youndegin Catchment revegetation strategy ($98,400);

·      Bullaring Catchment revegetation and Tanbarmering Gully revegetation projects ($63,665);

·      Yallambee Ridgelines ($20,498);

·      Wickepin East Catchment revegetation ($44,420);

·      George Rock Reserve protection ($38,074);

·      Yenyenning Lakes - Morbinning Gully Corridor ($29,400); and -

·      Salt River revegetation project ($34,265).

Media contact: Nicole Trigwell (08) 9481 2044