The Liberal and Nationals Government today announced more grants for the electorate of Nicholls under the $20 million Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program. This program supports communities to deliver practical, on-ground projects to improve the health of their rivers and wetlands, while supporting local jobs and businesses.
Minister for Resources and Water, Keith Pitt noted the program was already helping communities across the Basin, with this second round increasing support.
“These grants will provide a further $280,000 in funding to communities across Nicholls, supporting local businesses and jobs following the $80,000 invested in Nicholls from the previous round of Healthy Rivers Program grants,” Minister Pitt said.
“Programs like Healthy Rivers give the 2.6 million people living in the Basin practical opportunities to improve their local river and wetland environments, while supporting livelihoods.”
Member for Nicholls, Damian Drum said the grants were supporting local communities to come together to implement these important projects.
“I’m pleased to see that three grants have been awarded to Nicholls communities to support river and wetland health in the region,” Mr Drum said.
“Nature Glenelg Pty. Ltd will work with First Nations and the local community to revitalise Rowan Swamp, focussing on erosion control and invasive weed control. This will provide a critical habitat for migratory bird species and a pocket of critically endangered grasslands.
“Additionally, the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority will work to establish a new population of the vulnerable Southern Pygmy Perch. The project will control invasive willows and resnag along the upper Goulburn Rivers to provide habitat for the fish, while injecting $88,000 into the local economy.”
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said the Healthy Rivers grants shows the Liberal and Nationals Government’s strong commitment to communities across regional Victoria.
“These projects will deliver real, on-ground outcomes for our rivers and wetlands, while bringing the community together to implement them.
“The Healthy Rivers Program engages people in our community to help their environment, and it is fantastic to see this happening locally, and right across the Basin. The good news is there are more projects to come across our state,” Senator McKenzie said.
Minister Pitt said today’s announcement was about putting communities back at the heart of the Basin Plan, with the Healthy Rivers Program forming a key part of the Coalition Government’s Murray–Darling Communities Investment Package.
“Importantly, these projects will contribute to regional and rural economies across the Basin through supporting local jobs and purchasing of goods and supplies from local businesses, providing critical economic support in their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, drought and bushfires.”
For more information on the successful projects, visit the department’s website.