New funding boost to South Australia’s natural resources

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Screen Shot 2013 04 16 at 8.16.34 AM
Screen Shot 2013 04 16 at 8.16.34 AM

The South Australian Government has announced that over $1.5 million will be rolled out to community groups and volunteers working across the state to protect natural resources.

South Australia. https://maps.google.com.au/
South Australia. https://maps.google.com.au/

Environment Minister, Ian Hunter announced the grants reflect the significance of volunteer efforts around our state.

“These grants acknowledge the enormous value of having the community help us achieve positive, long-term outcomes for our state’s natural resources, focusing on local projects which aim to care for land, water, plants and animals,” Mr Hunter said.

According to a statement, the money will be awarded in the form of NRM Community Grants and Volunteer Support Grants, to be administered jointly for the first time.  The NRM Community Grant funding of $1.5m will be awarded in 2013-14, with small and medium grants on offer, some up to the value of $30,000.  An additional $60,000 will also be awarded in Volunteer Support Grants.

“These awards have been operating for more than two decades, acknowledging the continuous work of our generous volunteers. The grants, of up to $5000 each, aim to help volunteer groups undertake projects on land which is managed by the environment department.”

Adertisement

“Around 650 volunteers have been involved in managing natural resources across our state in each of the past few years, contributing 50,000 hours of in-kind labour,” he said.

The aims of the funding is support grassroots NRM Initiatives.

“I strongly encourage community groups such as conservation groups, local action planning groups, catchment and water care groups, Friends of Parks groups, Aboriginal organisations, agricultural groups and schools to apply for support,” Mr Hunter said.

The opportunities for community members to be involved in setting regional priorities for natural resource management is said to be an ongoing focus, the Government revealed.

‘Hundreds of wide-ranging projects have benefited from the funding over the past four years. They include recent bids to conserve rock holes in the far north; an endangered freshwater crayfish study; a bid to improve the status of the red-tailed black cockatoo through
threat abatement and a reef watch intertidal monitoring program,’ SA.

Applications will be accepted between Friday 12 April and Friday 17 May. Application forms and further details are available through the NRM website: www.nrm.sa.gov.au.