The Australian Government is pleased to support the inaugural Gunaikurnai Whole of Country Plan with funding from our National Landcare Programme.
The Plan will empower the Gunaikurnai people to work with local natural resource management agencies to manage Country.
This Government is committed to ensuring that Indigenous communities play a central role in caring for our environment.
The Plan is the result of a productive partnership between the Gunaikurnai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation, Gippsland’s two catchment management authorities, and Native Title Services Victoria.
This important blueprint for the future is part of the Government’s $2 billion investment in managing our natural resources, focussed on bringing local communities back to the heart of decision-making.
This includes funding for programmes such as the Green Army, 20 Million Trees, Reef Trust and National Landcare Programmes.
More than $1 billion is being invested through the National Landcare Programme, including more than $450 million directed in regional funding through to Australia’s 56 natural resource management organisations to enable communities to take practical action to improve the environment.
West Gippsland and East Gippsland Catchment Management Authorities have committed to invest at least 20 per cent of their National Landcare Programme funding to support local projects.
The Gunaikurnai Whole of Country Plan:
– establishes a strategic basis for partnerships with government and community organisations to manage Country, exploring new business opportunities and leveraging resources that benefit the Gunaikurnai People
– guides the work of the Gunaikurnai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation in its efforts to support the Traditional Owner community
– informs future Traditional Owner Settlement negotiations
– provides a model for joint management planning on other Aboriginal Title lands.
For more information about the National Landcare Programme go to: http://www.nrm.gov.au
(ENDS)