3 October
2006 - The Australian Government today announced
it will continue its support beyond 2008 for the
largest environmental rescue effort since Federation.
New programmes, based on good
science, will build on the success of the $3 billion
Natural Heritage Trust and the $1.4 billion National
Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.
“We are taking a comprehensive,
continent-wide approach to managing our natural
resources, and have already achieved some amazing
results,” Senator Campbell said.
“Australian Government funding
has already helped to protect over 8 million hectares
of wetlands, treat 400,000 hectares of land for
salinity and erosion, and help some 800,000 volunteers
get involved in on-ground work”.
“We want to keep this momentum
going, so we’ve been talking to communities, industries
and our state and territory government partners
and hearing their views about how best we can
keep this vital work going”.
“The responses we’ve had have
been consistent across the country. Australians
value the support that the Australian Government
has provided to protect our land, water and coasts
and they want us to continue to provide that support”.
The Keogh Review was undertaken
by Kim Keogh, Bob Frazer and Doug Chant, chosen
for their links to the community and experience
across a range of environmental and agricultural
issues to inform the Australian Government on
the design of future NRM Programmes. “One thing
that came across loud and clear was the overwhelming
support for the partnership between governments,
rural communities and the Landcare movement,”
Mr McGauran said.
The review also highlighted
that significant investments have been made to
build the necessary links between communities,
industry and government for the successful delivery
of natural resource programmes. The Australian
Government has a central role in ensuring the
maximum return on this significant investment.
The on-going success of these important programmes
will depend on state and territory governments
also making significant investments.
For a copy of the Keogh Review
visit:
http://www.nrm.gov.au/publications/regional-delivery-review/index.html
For more information about the
government’s natural resource management programmes
visit:
www.nrm.gov.au
Rob Broadfield (Senator Campbell)
Russ Neal (Minister McGauran)
