New England Electorate to benefit from 20 Million Trees funding

18 Dec 2014

 

 

FEDERAL Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce said four projects in the New England, worth more than $330,000, have received funding announced by the Australian Government under the 20 Million Trees Programme.

 

The Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt said the 20 Million Trees Programme is a key election commitment, providing $50 million over four years to deliver tree planting projects across the country.

 

Mr Joyce said the announcements would illustrate how positively communities from across Australia have embraced the opportunity to plant trees and contribute to real environmental benefits in their own backyards.

 

“This funding is going to where the action is—to Landcare and community groups, individuals and organisations to enable them to plant native trees, shrubs and other plants in their local communities.

 

“I am looking forward to seeing these trees—and the millions to follow under this programme—grow into green corridors and urban forests that will provide benefits to the environment and to local communities,” he said.

 

“I’m glad to say we’ve got $100,000 for the Peel River anabranch at Wallamore. The river has been eating into the prime farmland right here on the edge of town and this program will go a long way to reclaiming this land,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“I went into bat to try and find the money and now we have it to start making sure we rejuvenate the dairy and irrigation country that resides between the two watercourses.”

 

He said 11,300 trees were planned for the Wallamore project, which will be planted over a three-year period.

 

Mr Joyce said nearly $75,000 was set aside for the Little Llangothlin Lagoon Ramsar site where the plan is to plant 4500 trees over a three-year period.

 

Glen Innes is set to receive two projects: $97,773 to plant 19,500 trees over three years in the Glen Innes area aimed specifically at enhancing New England Peppermint grassy woodlands and White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum grassy woodlands. The other project for Glen Innes area has similar aims in creating specific biodiversity sites but will involve the planting of 11,500 trees over 18 months, creating habitats connections and enhancing biodiversity on farm.

 

The projects funded by the Australian Government through this first grant funding round will deliver up to 1.6 million native trees towards the 20 million trees target.

 

“These trees and other plants will contribute to re-establishing native vegetation, providing habitat to support threatened plants and animals, and creating greener spaces to improve the liveability of our cities and towns,” Mr Joyce said.

 

Minister Hunt said nationwide, funding of $4.5 million has been approved for 57 projects.

 

As well as the grants, the Australian Government will be running a tender process for service providers to undertake large-scale tree plantings. Details are available at www.nrm.gov.au/20-million-trees

 

The 20 Million Trees initiative is an important part of the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.

 

 

 

Caption: Federal Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce [right] inspecting the Peel River anabranch with Wallamore Road Landcare Group chairman, David Gowing Local Land Services’ Tim Watts, Wallamore Road Landcare Group secretary/treasurer and dairy farmer Julie Brown and her son Mitchell.

 

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