An additional 11 projects have been awarded grant money under the Murray Darling Healthy Rivers Program, an initiative designed to encourage regional communities get more involved in caring for the rivers and wetlands in their region.
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The $20m program aims to treat 3,949 hectares of weeds, install 58 kilometres of fencing, and plant over 58,000 seedlings whilst purchasing $1.2 million in goods from local businesses.
A total of 22 animal species, one plant species and one ecological community listed under federal environmental legislation will be protected by these projects.
As part of this next round of funding $1.2m will be investing in communities across the Farrer electorate including the likes of Narrandera and in Coleambally.
"These grants will inject more than $1.2m in funding into Farrer communities, supporting local businesses and jobs, and building on the investment of over $400,000 in grants from the previous round of Healthy Rivers Program grants," Minister Ley said.
"One Health Rivers grant will fund Coleambally Irrigation, who will contract locally to fence off 690 hectares of a wildlife reserve from livestock grazing and human disturbance.
"This will protect significant areas of the endangered Weeping Myall and Buloke Woodlands, as well as wildlife species such as the Superb Parrot and Southern Bell Frog."
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Local Land Services in Narrandera will also see conservation works commence to enhance river redgum forests along Cudel Creek.
Minister for Resources and Water, Keith Pitt said the program would produce similar outcomes across the whole Basin.
"Importantly, these projects will contribute to regional economies across the Basin through supporting local jobs and purchasing of goods and supplies from local rural businesses, helping them recover from COVID-19, drought and bushfires."
"This program shows that you can protect the environment in more ways than recovering water from Basin farmers - it's good for the environment, communities and the economy.
"That's why it forms a key part of the Liberal Nationals Government's Murray-Darling Communities Investment Package, which is putting communities back at the heart of the Basin Plan."
For more information on the successful projects, visit the department's website.
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