East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA) has been granted $6.3 million in Federal Government funding for projects that support and protect the Gippsland Lakes, improve agricultural land and protect threatened species in the Victorian Alpine peatland.
The funding was announced on Tuesday by the Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, and is part of a total $14.5m earmarked for Gippsland, with West Gippsland CMA receiving $8.2 million for erosion and soil acidification works, protection of threatened ecological species and projects at Corner Inlet.
EGCMA chairperson, Dr Peter Veenker, said the grants were extremely important to the region and would help maintain the ecological character of the Gippsland Lakes RAMSAR area which comprises more than 60,000 hectares, stretching from east of the Latrobe Valley to south of the Eastern Highlands.
“We have really great assets here and we need to invest in and improve them, ” Mr Veenker said.
“We’re very grateful for the funding to help reduce the threat to our globally significant wetlands.
“The TopSoils2 project is also great news for the local community to improve agricultural land in East Gippsland, which builds on the previous TopSoils project and will continue to bring together community and partner agencies to improve the productive potential of agricultural land and protect the condition of our soil resource.
“This type of funding allows us to cooperate with groups like Landcare and Greening Australia.”
Priority actions for the Gippsland Lakes includes predator control, weed control, protection of saltmarsh and monitoring and assessment of key species.
Mr Chester said the North East CMA had also been allocated $11.3 million for projects that crossed into the alpine areas of East Gippsland.
“Caring for the environment is everyone’s responsibility. We live in a magnificent region and practical environmental management projects help to sustain and protect our natural attractions for future generations to enjoy,” Mr Chester said.
“Communities across Gippsland will benefit from the important on-ground work that will be delivered under the Regional Land Partnerships program. The projects support environmental outcomes and sustainable agriculture.
“The funding goes to local agencies which are best placed to work with farmers and residents to harness local knowledge and expertise and achieve the best possible outcomes for our community.”
Of the investment under the program $170 million is to help protect and recover Australia’s threatened species and ecological communities, with $70 million to go towards sustainable agriculture projects.
PICTURED: Federal member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, pictured at the Macleod Morass on Tuesday with East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA) chairperson, Dr Peter Veenker, announced EGCMA has been granted $6.3 million in Federal Government funding.
