According to the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) media release, Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson and Minister for the Environment Rob Stokes has declared a budget rise for natural resource management with $79.5 million allotted over the next three years.
“The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) and Local Land Services partnership strengthens the NSW Government’s support for natural resource management,” said Ms Hodgkinson.
“Local Land Services is a new way of thinking about regional service delivery, and today’s announcement ensures that an important funding pillar of the organisation is locked in for the next three years.”
Local Land Services, the new regional service delivery organisation, will be observed by the crucial partnership agreement.
“This funding will be allocated across the 11 Local Land Services regions and invested according to regional strategic plans to meet State-wide priorities,” Ms Hodgkinson added.
Mr Stokes has stated that the OEH funding from Waste and Environment Levy is supplied to Local Land Services to provide on-ground regionally-based natural resource management programs.
“Biodiversity conservation, threatened species management, Aboriginal cultural heritage protection and native vegetation management programs are all set to benefit from this funding,” said Mr Stokes.
“Consistent with Cabinet’s commitment this funding sees the waste levy dollars being returned to regional areas.”
Mr Stokes has emphasised the funding to also include pest and weed management programs, supporting state and regional scale investment priorities.
“The funding also recognises the value of protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage including significant sites and traditional knowledge through natural resource management projects.”
 media release, Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson and Minister for the Environment Rob Stokes has declared a budget rise for natural resource management with $79.5 million allotted over the next three years.){kind=link}