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February 22, 2007
Alcoa grants help keep WA rivers healthy
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Media statement from Swan Catchment Council
More than $610,000 in landcare funding was received by 37 community environmental groups at the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program 2007 funding ceremony today.
The 2007 funding assists community groups to undertake 90 on-ground projects within the metropolitan area.
Swan Catchment Council Chairman, Mr Colin Heinzman said that these projects involve foreshore, wetland and bushland restoration and include building drains for living stream projects, as well as creating bushland corridors.
“The Swan Alcoa Landcare Program was established to give community groups easy access to funding for on-ground revegetation, rehabilitation and other environmentally based projects.
“Now in its ninth year, that funding has equated to over 700 projects worth more than $3.8 million across the metropolitan area”, Mr Heinzman said.
Managed by the Swan Catchment Council, the program is jointly funded by Alcoa of Australia and the Swan River Trust. Alcoa has supported the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program since 1998 and recently announced a further three-year $750,000 commitment, taking its total funding of the program to $2.8 million.
Environment Minister, the Hon Mr Tony McRae said that the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program addresses a real need in our State and complements a range of existing Government environmental programs - most notably the Swan River Trust’s Healthy Rivers Program, Drainage Nutrient Intervention Program and Riverbank.
“This program is a unique partnership and involves in-kind support from local government and industry, Mr McRae said.
“In recognition of these important partnerships the Shire of Kalamunda was awarded the Local Government Recognition Award today for its support to the Two Rivers Catchment Group’s Woodlupine Brook Restoration Project.”
Alcoa’s Managing Director, Mr Wayne Osborn, paid tribute to the sustained commitment of volunteers who have put many years of work into rehabilitation projects.
‘You can see tangible improvements in the landscape as a result of their dedication. Many of these groups are now going back to areas they’ve weeded or planted with trees in earlier years, and they’re now putting in understorey plants,” said Mr Osborn.
“These rehabilitation projects don’t happen overnight so we’re very fortunate to have so many community groups and volunteers who’ve given their time over many years and continue to do so,” said Mr Osborn.
Swan River Trust Chairman, Charlie Welker, said the Trust was committed to maintaining and improving the ecological health and community benefit of the Swan and Canning rivers.
“The Trust proudly supports the Swan Alcoa Landcare Progam, its community participants and their valuable projects, which play a significant role in keeping our rivers healthy,” Mr Welker said.
“SALP projects assist in making a significant contribution to addressing the environmental issues facing the Swan and Canning rivers and catchments.
“We place a high importance on working together with volunteers, community groups, other departments and organisations to achieve positive outcomes for the rivers. Without this support, our rivers will suffer.”
Swan Catchment Council Chair, Colin Heinzman said he was also happy to announce the commencement of the 2008 funding round.
Application guidelines and forms for the 2008 funding round are now available on the Swan Catchment Council website at www.swancatchmentcouncil.org or by contacting the Swan Catchment Council on 9374 3333. Applications must be received by 1 May 2007.
Organisations to receive funding under the 2007 round of SALP funding were:
• Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group ($ 67,600)
• Bannister Creek Catchment Group ($ 33,412)
• Blackadder Woodridge Catchment Group ($ 16,609)
• Bungendore Park Management Committee ($ 6,210)
• Canning River Regional Park Volunteers ($ 4,600)
• Chittering Valley Land Conservation District Committee ($ 34,152)
• Chrysalis Montessori School ($ 4,405)
• Local residents in partnership with the City of Rockingham ($ 5,216)
• Ellen Brockman Integrated Catchment Group ($ 35,270)
• Eric Hooper ($ 7,620)
• Friends of Attadale Foreshore ($ 11,182)
• Friends of Blue Wren Reserve ($ 4,608)
• Friends of Boya Trail ($ 5,800)
• Friends of Camfield Reserve ($ 1,537)
• Friends of Coolbinia Bushland ($ 2,250)
• Friends of Gooba Lake in partnership with the City of Bayswater ($ 8,075)
• Friends of Kensitt Street ($ 5,249)
• Friends of Lake Claremont in partnership with the Town of Claremont ($8,316)
• Friends of Lightning Swamp Bushland ($ 6,092)
• Friends of Lion Mill Creek Reserve ($ 7,000)
• Friends of Mandoon Park ($ 675)
• Friends of May Brook ($ 2,532)
• Friends of Piesse Brook Incorporated ($ 47,850)
• Friends of Quenda Hollow ($ 2,650)
• Friends of Spring Road Reserve ($ 4,400)
• Friends of Timbertop Reserve ($ 864)
• Jane Brook Catchment Group ($ 18,005)
• Mt Henry Conservation Group ($ 5,500)
• Nature Reserves Preservation Group ($ 4,950)
• North Metro Catchment Group ($ 104,905)
• North Swan Land Conservation District Committee ($ 21,893)
• Roleystone Dieback Action Group ($ 9,220)
• Susannah Brook Catchment Group ($ 20,675)
• Two Rivers Catchment Group in partnership with the City of Belmont ($ 15,776)
• Wannamal Lake Catchment Group ($ 38,405)
• Wilson Wetland Action Group ($ 14,325)
• Wooroloo Brook Land Conservation District Committee($ 22,500)
Media Contact:
Silvana Traini
Promotions Officer
Swan Catchment Council
0438 948 866 or silvana.traini@water.wa.gov.au
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