JOINT MEDIA RELEASE WITH HON BARNABY JOYCE MP, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE
Almost 300 community groups and individuals across Australia will share in $5 million to enable communities to take practical action as part of the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.
Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt, and Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce, today announced the successful projects under the 25th Anniversary Landcare Grants 2014-15 round.
“We are pleased to congratulate all of the successful applicants under this funding round,” Minister Hunt said.
Funding under the 25th Anniversary Landcare Grants will support farmers, Indigenous and community groups, including Landcare, to enhance the environment and improve management of our natural resource base,” Minister Hunt said.
A total of 291 projects will receive funding of between $5000 and $20 000. Of these, 148 projects will have a strong agricultural focus and 143will focus on delivering positive environmental outcomes.
Examples include:
• Preserving and sharing Indigenous ecological knowledge in Western Australia’s Kimberley region
• Targeting invasive species on the Northern Territory’s Gurriba Island
• Improving agricultural dairy practices along Tasmania’s Derwent River
• Managing feral pigs on Kangaroo Island
• Implementing sustainable farming and grazing practices on farms in New South Wales’ Central Tablelands
Minister Joyce said the $5 million in funding is divided equally between the agriculture and environment themes.
These grants are focused on engaging the community to deliver local environmental and agricultural projects which will have lasting benefits for the environment and productive agricultural landscapes,” Minister Joyce said.
“The agricultural projects will support farmers to better manage our natural resource base through improved knowledge, skills and practices,” Minister Joyce said.
Minister Hunt said the Australian Government is investing more than $2 billion in managing Australia’s natural resources over the next four years.
“We are putting Landcare back at the centre of natural resource management,” Minister Hunt said.
Further information about the National Landcare Programme can be found online at www.nrm.gov.au.