As part of the Minns Labor Government's commitment to strenghtening rural and regional communities the Government is delivering more than $5 million in projects to protect threatened species and boost climate resilience in the state's far west.
The projects are funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by the NSW Government through Local Land Services, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.
The projects, being delivered across NSW over five years to 2028, will assist with:
- recovery of threatened species, including native animals and plants
- reducing threats to important wetlands and world heritage sites
- improving on-farm soil, biodiversity and vegetation
- helping farmers adapt to climate change.
The four projects being delivered in far-west NSW are:
Caryapundy Swamp Ramsar Preservation - $2 million
East of Sturt National Park and Tibooburra, in Channel Country, the Caryapundy Project will study the Ramsar-listed wetland to better understand the landscape processes that have shaped the area.
In wet years, the Bulloo River floods the Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp National Park, creating expansive, semi-permanent wetlands where nesting water birds and other wildlife flock.
Geomorphologist Gresley Wakelin-King will lead the study, identifying key hydrology lines to help inform future rangeland rehabilitation works.
Restoring Mallee birds habitat - $1.4 million
This project aims to protect and restore critical habitat and increase the home-range for 20 bird species, such as the regent parrot and malleefowl in the Murray Darling Depression Bioregion.
The Murray Darling Depression Bioregion lies in the southwest corner of NSW and extends into Victoria and South Australia.
Habitat restoration will be achieved through strategic pest animal control targeting feral cats and foxes, weed management, revegetation, and works to control total grazing pressure.
Preserving the Willandra Lakes region - $800,000
In the state's far southwest, the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area will benefit from more work to protect the area from environmental threats, including invasive species such as wild rabbits and feral pigs, damage to cultural heritage caused by erosion, and land degradation.
The Willandra Lakes Region is an extensive area that contains a system of dry, ancient lake beds formed over the last two million years.
Aboriginal people lived on the shores of the lakes for at least 50,000 years, and the remains of a 40,000-year-old female found in the dunes of Lake Mungo are believed to be the oldest ritual cremation site in the world.
Preserving the grey range thick-billed grasswren - $800,000
The grey range thick-billed grasswren is a rangeland species found only in the state's far north-west in arid shrubland.
This project aims to preserve the grey range thick-billed grasswren in the Milparinka and Packsaddle areas in the far west rangelands by regenerating the saltbush and bluebush the bird lives and breeds in.
Western Local Land Services will work with other stakeholders to deliver these projects, including Traditional Owners, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, landholders, and plant and animal experts.
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Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:
"These projects are a significant undertaking and a win for Western NSW, with Local Land Services coordinating on-ground efforts to achieve some great environmental and natural resource management outcomes.
"Many threatened species rely on these sites, so it's a welcome investment in preserving and enhancing their environmental and cultural values.
"Collaboration will be key to the projects' success, with involvement from a range of stakeholders across the board, including, importantly, First Nations voices."
State Member for Barwon Roy Butler said:
"Preserving native species and ecologically sensitive areas is important. Non-native pest control is one of the greatest actions we can take to protect our native wildlife.
"A collaborative and holistic approach to strategic pest management and utilising all the tools we have, like baiting, trapping, fencing and aerial and ground shooting, will allow our threatened species to thrive in their natural environments.
I welcome this investment from the NSW Government and Minister Moriarty."
