18 September
2006 - The Howard Government will provide $10,000
towards a new effort to clean up the River Torrens
in Adelaide.
Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister for Environment and Heritage, Greg Hunt,
today announced the funding would be used to sponsor
the forthcoming Urban Rivers Symposium.
Mr Hunt said the Symposium,
due to be held in Adelaide later this year, will
draw on world's best practice in urban river management
to help find new solutions to clean up the waterway.
"For too long, the waterway
has been allowed to be treated as a glorified
stormwater drain," Mr Hunt told the Environment
Institute of Australia and New Zealand Conference
in Adelaide.
"In many ways, the Torrens
is Australia's biggest stormwater drain. But it
represents the heart and soul of the city. We
must increase efforts to improve the river's water
quality.
"I want the Symposium,
which is being organised by the Adelaide City
Council, to come up with a new action plan with
new ideas and new solutions from environmental
experts around Australia and overseas."
The funding is from the Federal
Government's Community Water Grants scheme. It
offers grants of up to $50,000* for projects including
efforts to improve water quality and water recycling.
Federal Member for Sturt, Christopher
Pyne, welcomed the Commonwealth sponsorship of
the event.
"Earlier this year, Greg
Hunt, Trish Draper and I urged the State Government
to commit significant funds to develop a long
term strategy to rehabilitate the Torrens,"
Mr Pyne said.
"With the State Budget
to be finally handed down in a few days I'd urge
Treasurer Foley to make that commitment and help
fix this iconic South Australian waterway,"
he said.
John Deller (Mr Hunt's office)
Adam Howard (Mr Pyne's office)
*some projects may be funded for up to $250,000.
For details call 1800 780 730
