 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
February 27, 2009
A boost for WA’s much-loved Swan River
|
|
|
Nearly 40 community environmental groups have been given a helping hand to restore and rejuvenate the land around the Swan and Canning Rivers, thanks to the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program (SALP). The announcement coming as the health of the Swan River remains in the spotlight.
SALP has today distributed close to $600,000 in community grants which will be invested in over 70 on-ground rehabilitation and revegetation projects, including: foreshore, wetland and bushland restoration, the building of drains for living stream projects, and the creation of bushland corridors.
SALP is a three-way partnership between Australia’s biggest aluminium producer, Alcoa of Australia, the Perth Region Natural Resource Management (NRM), and the Swan River Trust.
Alcoa’s Managing Director Alan Cransberg said while the funds were a necessary component of SALP, it was the volunteers who deserved recognition.
“Without the hundreds of people who give up their own time to volunteer with these community groups, all the vital work to protect our rivers would not be possible,” he said.
“Rehab and conservation is something I can particularly relate to because of Alcoa’s own mining rehabilitation work - which has been recognised as world class. Because of this experience, I appreciate how difficult and time consuming the rehab process is and the dedication that it requires,” he said.
“In years to come, I want to be able to look my kids in the eye, and be able to tell them that I took steps and was serious about finding solutions to climate change and sustainability. I know that all of the community volunteers involved in SALP will be able to do the same.”
Mr Cransberg said SALP was a working example of government, industry and community coming together for a common purpose.
Perth Region NRM Chairman, Mr Colin Heinzman said: “Now in its eleventh year, SALP has made possible over 800 projects across the metropolitan area.”
- ENDS -
Background:
The Swan Alcoa Landcare Program (SALP) was established to give community groups access to funding for on-ground revegetation, rehabilitation and other environmentally based projects.
Since SALP began in 1998 it has funded more than 800 environmental projects worth close to $4 million and has also been responsible for more than 200 hectares of weed removal and more than 1 million trees being planted.
Organisations which have received funding under the 2009 round of SALP grants are:
North
Friends of Lightning Swamp Bushland
Friends of Bennett Brook Reserve
City of Bayswater
City of Bayswater
Friends of Coolbinia Bushland
City of Nedlands/Friends of Allen Park
South Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group Inc
Two Rivers Group
Roleybushcare Inc
SERCUL
Wilson Wetlands Action Group Inc
Baldivis Children's Forest Inc
Bungendore Park Management Committee
Friends of Attadale Foreshore In (FOAF)
Wandi Landcare Group/Town of Kwinana
The Canning River Regional Park Volunteers Inc
Mt Henry Peninsula Conservation Group
North-East
Chittering Valley Land Conservation District Committee
North Swan Conservation District Committee
Ellen Brockman Integrated Catchment Group
Coastal
Coogee Beach Surf Lifesaving Club Inc.
South-East
Susannah Brook Catchment Group
Jane Brook Catchment Group
Friends of Pioneer Park
Friends of Marionvale Brook
Jane Brook Catchment Group
Friends of May Brook
Jane Brook Catchment Group
SWAN TAFE
Sandy and Roger Stone
Friends of Blue Wren/Susannah Brook Catchment Group
Friends of Boya Trail
United Nations Association of Australia (WA) Environment subcommittee
Wooroloo Brook LCDC
Wooroloo Brook LCDC
Helena River Catchment Group Inc
Susannah Brook Catchment Group
Friends of Piesse Brook Inc
Blackadder-Woodridge Catchment Group Inc
Wooroloo Brook LCDC
Wooroloo Brook LCDC
Wooroloo Brook LCDC
Friends of Black Cockatoo Reserve
Wooroloo Brook LCDC
|
|
|
|
