The Palaszczuk Government is investing up to $10.7 million over the next four years in the state’s far north to protect the region’s soil, water and vegetation and the Great Barrier Reef.
Natural Resources Minister Dr Anthony Lynham today announced the first round of funds for four far north Queensland natural resources bodies from a $27 million state-wide pool.
“The Palaszczuk Government is investing these funds to help grassroot natural resources bodies to continue their work to improve waterways, native vegetation and grasslands,” Dr Lynham said.
“Cape York Natural Resource Management, Terrain Natural Resource Management, the Torres Strait Regional Authority and the Northern Gulf Resource Management Group have been allocated $10.7 million in this first round to deliver projects and to continue to look for new ways to improve the far north’s natural resources.
“They will continue to work with local landholders, volunteers and traditional owners to enhance native vegetation and manage soil erosion.
“The work they undertake also helps build resilience to extreme weather, build the State’s natural resources volunteer and working base; improve landholder and industry skills, knowledge and engagement; and foster greater collaboration with traditional owners.”
Terrain Natural Resource Management’s experts will work with farmers in the Cassowary and Saltwater Creek Sub-Catchments of the Mossman Basin over the next four years to restore riparian vegetation in local water catchments.
Terrain will also be working with stakeholders across nine local government areas to trial a prioritisation and partnership system to improve native vegetation condition.
Terrain also will focus on reducing the impact of actively eroding areas and reducing the risk of new erosion in the sub catchments of Malanda and Ithaca Creeks on the upper catchment and the Nerada area in the upper part of the Lower Johnstone.
Cape York NRM will be working in the joint management area within the Palmer River and northern side of the Mitchell River to improve native vegetation and soil erosion management to reduce sediment from grazing lands.
“As part of improving the water quality for the Reef, Cape York NRM will remediate sites on the West Normanby Distal Gully site on Springvale Station, which is an important sediment source in the Normanby Basin.”
The Torres Strait Regional Authority’s projects are across multiple islands, including Thursday, Moa and Gebar.
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui welcomed the ongoing support for TSRA’s work.
“This is a grassroots organisation doing important work, ensuring natural land and water resources are managed in a sustainable and culturally appropriate way,” she said.
“Cape York NRM has a track record of working to priorities that have been developed through extensive community engagement. This most welcomed funding will allow Cape York NRM to continue to help people work to care for the natural environment while promoting the sustainable use of natural resources”. She said.
Dr Lynham said $15.6 million has been earmarked for natural resources groups across the state to help improve the health of the Great Barrier Reef over the four-year life of the program.
“These bodies are on the frontline and their activities help improve the quality of the water that flows onto the Reef in catchments all around the state,” he said.
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