- More than 50 community-based groups to benefit from $7.73 million awarded to enhance WA's natural environment
- Cook Government's Community Stewardship Grants supporting the sustainable management of the State's natural resources
More than 50 community-based groups across Western Australia have shared in $7.73million from the Cook Government for projects which protect and restore the local environment.
A total of 54 Community Stewardship Grants have been awarded for a wide range of projects including waterway and catchment rehabilitation, priority weed management, fostering traditional ecological knowledge sharing, cultural fire management, dieback management, coast care and protection, and recovery of wildlife.
The grants recognise the knowledge, volunteer efforts and strong partnerships within local communities to support the sustainable management of WA's natural resources.
Grant recipients include the Cockburn Wetlands Education Centre in Bibra Lake, which is receiving $266,300 towards its Thriving Wetlands, Thriving Community project.
The Thriving Wetlands, Thriving Community project will restore part of the Bibra Lake Reserve's wetland and dryland areas to create a habitat to encourage turtles to breed and establish, and to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining viable wetland environments for the future.
Torbay Catchment Group, located west of Albany, will use a $211,294 grant to bolster protection of threatened species including the western ringtail possum, black cockatoos and quenda through predator reduction efforts, installing habitat defences, population monitoring and community education.
In the Kimberley, Rangelands NRM Co-ordinating Group will use a $326,074 grant for their Dampier Peninsula Fire Working Group, a collaboration of Traditional Custodians and land managers focused on improving fire management practices in a changing climate.
A full list of grant recipients is available from www.wa.gov.au/service/environment/conservation/apply-community-stewardship-grant.
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"Since 2018, the Cook Labor Government has invested more than $53 million into 450 grassroots environment projects through the Community Stewardship Grants program.
"It is great to be at The Wetlands Centre today to see first-hand the important work the dedicated staff and volunteers are doing to conserve and restore the Bibra Lake wetlands.
"Supporting community groups to care for their local environments is vital to ensuring the longer-term sustainability of Western Australia's natural resources."
As stated by Water Minister Simone McGurk:
"Healthy waterways are integral to natural resource management - when our waterways and wetlands thrive so too does the wider environment.
"Work to restore the Bibra Lake wetlands is a great example of what is being achieved thanks to passionate community groups who are using these grants to make a real difference.
"These important community projects will assist in protecting our valued water and environmental assets for many years to come."
As stated by Environment Minister Reece Whitby:
"Local community groups playsuchan important role in protectingWestern Australia's unique and wonderfulenvironment.
"Thesegrants willensure their work continues, whether it be through protecting our precious wetlands or looking after our remarkable turtles."
