28 August
2006 - Australian Minister for the Environment
and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, and Australian
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry,
Peter McGauran, have announced a review of Natural
Heritage Trust funding arrangements for land and
sea management centres in Cape York Peninsula.
Senator Campbell said that with
project reports pointing to mixed results from
on-ground achievements in the Cape, it was appropriate
to review the land and sea centres and ascertain
what needed to be done to improve programme delivery.
“The success of the Natural
Heritage Trust in bringing about positive environmental
gains depends largely on harnessing the enthusiasm
and efforts of local communities,” Senator Campbell
said.
“In Cape York, the setting up
of land and sea management centres has been seen
as an important means of mobilizing those efforts
in Indigenous communities. What we must do is
ensure we are getting the best possible results
from that investment.”
Mr McGauran said it was important
that resources were targeted at areas of highest
priority.
“We need the best return on
our investment and to deliver for the environment,”
Mr McGauran said.
The review will be undertaken
by an experienced external organisation, which
will make recommendations on future funding as
well as reporting on progress to date. It is expected
to be completed by early October 2006.
“Advice from the review will
help the Australian Government make decisions
about future funding, building on successes and
trying to improve results,” Mr McGauran said.
The land and sea management
centres were set up with Natural Heritage Trust
funding in Cape York Peninsula in 2002.
The role of the centres
includes working with the traditional owners to
develop plans to best protect and manage the area’s
natural and cultural resources. Since 2002, 13
indigenous communities have received land and
sea centre funding.
Rob Broadfield (Senator Campbell’s office)
Nancy Joseph (Minister McGauran’s office)
