Funding to conserve waterways in communities

CONSERVING WATERWAYS... The Coalition announced in Shepparton last week additional grants for Nicholls will become available under the $20M Murray-Darling Healthy Rivers Program. Photo: Kelly Lucas

THE Coalition announced in Shepparton last week additional grants for Nicholls will become available under the $20M Murray-Darling Healthy Rivers Program. This program supports communities to deliver practical, on-ground projects to improve the health of local rivers and wetlands, while supporting local jobs and businesses. 

Minister for Resources and Water, Keith Pitt, noted the program was already helping communities across the Basin, with this second round providing a further $280,000 in funding across the electorate. 

“Programs like Healthy Rivers give the 2.6 million people living in the Basin practical opportunities to improve their local river and wetland environments, while supporting livelihoods,” said Mr Pitt. 

Local member, Damian Drum, said the grants were supporting Nicholls communities to come together to implement these important projects. 

“Nature Glenelg Pty. Ltd will work with First Nations and the local community to revitalise Rowan Swamp, focussing on erosion control and invasive weed control. This will provide a critical habitat for migratory bird species and a pocket of critically endangered grasslands. 

“Additionally, the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority will work to establish a new population of the vulnerable Southern Pygmy Perch. The project will control invasive willows and re-snag along the upper Goulburn Rivers to provide habitat for the fish, while injecting $88,000 into the local economy.” 

Minister Pitt said today’s announcement was about putting communities back at the heart of the Basin Plan, with the Healthy Rivers Program forming a key part of the Coalition Government’s Murray–Darling Communities Investment Package. 

“Importantly, these projects will contribute to regional and rural economies across the Basin through supporting local jobs and purchasing of goods and supplies from local businesses, providing critical economic support in their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, drought and bushfires.” 

To learn more about this program, head to: www.awe.gov.au/water/policy/mdb/programs/basin-wide/healthy-rivers-program 

CONSERVING WATERWAYS… The Coalition announced in Shepparton last week additional grants for Nicholls will become available under the $20M Murray-Darling Healthy Rivers Program. Photo: Kelly Lucas