Endangered vegetation communities and threatened species in the Blue Mountains will benefit from a share of more than $28.5 million in Federal Government funding to protect the environment.
Blue Mountains City Council was successful in receiving grant funding for two of only 20 NSW projects to receive funding under the Caring for our Country Open Grants announced recently by Environment Minister Peter Garrett and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke.
“Many of the organisations funded through this Open Grants scheme look beyond their local environmental issues to link up with others to deliver better environment and land management practices on a larger scale”, Mr Garrett said.
Council has received $110,000 for the restoration of shale-based Endangered Ecological Communities in the lower Blue Mountains, the control of weeds Gorse and Broom in the upper mountains and the protection of the Dwarf Mountain Pine.
Council will undertake this work as a significant partner in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority grant funded project, which involves protecting values associated with the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
In addition, Council received $364,500 for the ‘Saving our Swamps: National Restoration Program for Temperate Peat Swamps’ project.
Mayor, Cr Adam Searle, said “The Saving our Swamps project involves partnering with Lithgow, Wingecarribee, and Gosford Councils in environmental restoration and the training of staff and contractors relating to the management of Blue Mountains Swamps.
Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone are listed as a Nationally Endangered Ecological Community with less than 3,000ha remaining today. These swamps are an irreplaceable part of Australia’s natural heritage and this project is helping to achieve the active management and conservation of this endangered community at a regional scale. ”
“Saving our Swamps is based on a proven and highly successful integrated conservation program that commenced in 2006 by Blue Mountains City Council. This program and the experienced project management team were considered to be a model and Council was approached by state agencies to expand the program through partnership into other local government areas”, Cr Searle concluded.