April 7, 2015

Funding to help locals preserve their environment

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas welcomed the Andrews Labor Government’s $3.2 million commitment to ensure funding for Victoria’s 68 Landcare facilitators for another four years.

Ms Thomas said the funding would give certainty for Landcare groups and projects throughout Macedon to continue their important work.

Penny Roberts, President of the Newham and District Landcare Group was delighted to hear funding would be continued for another four years.

"Our Landcare group has been working on a long-term project towards creating a wildlife and biodiversity corridor called the Campaspe Maribyrnong Headwaters Biolink," Ms Roberts said.

"This funding means that the work of Landcare facilitators – informing, encouraging and enabling Landcare volunteers – will continue to add value to the enormous contribution made by volunteers."

Alan Denehey, President of the Ashbourne Landcare group, which is establishing a riparian biolink along a 16.5 kilometre stretch of the Campaspe River from Wombat State Forest to the Tylden Woodend Road, was also pleased with the announcement.

"Our project brings together 26 landowners along the Campaspe River and we’ve been working closely with the North Central Catchment Management Authority".

"Further downstream, we’ve also recently completed a riparian recovery project along 950 metres of the Campaspe River involving five landowners and Woodend Primary School students," Mr Denehey said.

"The work we do not only benefits our environment but is all about capacity building in our local communities".

Sandy Scheltema, the Upper Campaspe Landcare Network Facilitator, responsible for bringing fourteen Landcare groups together across the region also welcomed the funding certainty.

"I’m pleased to hear of the ongoing funding for Landcare facilitators. It enables me to continue doing this important work, which supports all fourteen of the Landcare and Friends Groups within our Network".

"Each of our members is making a difference in protecting our environment for future generations," Ms Scheltema said.

Ms Thomas praised the work of Landcare facilitators, which assist Landcare groups to "work together on projects that have benefits on a broad scale".

"The Andrews Government will work to improve and extend the coverage of this great program, making sure that facilitators can continue to grow their role in our communities".

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