MP for Ballina Don Page and the Minister for the Environment, Robyn Parker, have announced $513,542 for five environmental restoration and rehabilitation projects in the Ballina electorate.
The funds had been allocated from the NSW government’s Environmental Trust, an independent statutory body established to undertake projects that enhance the environment of NSW.
The amount includes $100,000 already reported by Echonetdaily last week as going to Big Scrub Landcare for a project to rehabilitate endangered lowland subtropical rainforest sites identified in the Border Ranges Rainforest Biodiversity Management Plan.
‘Brunswick Valley Landcare has been allocated $99,715 for a project to restore endangered ecological communities along the Brunswick River and its tributaries,’ Mr Page said.
And Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council has been awarded two grants, both of $100,000.
‘One grant will be used to restore and manage 815ha of high conservation value vegetation on Jali lands around Wardell. The other will go to restoring and protecting 290ha of high conservation value heath and wetland at Seven Mile Beach, north of Lennox Head,’ he said.
Byron Shire Council will receive $98,844 to restore and manage urban bushland at 21 sites covering 39.5ha. The sites have high conservation value vegetation and create habitat and connectivity for native plants and animals in the urban environment.
Ms Parker said the funds had come from the NSW Environmental Trust and these were five of 49 grants totalling $4.06 million under the 2011 round of the Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation Program.
‘The Restoration and Rehabilitation Program funds projects that protect, restore and enhance the natural environment and grants are open to community and state and local government organisations,’ Ms Parker said.
‘I commend all the organisations for their commitment to protect and restore their local environment.’
