Grant to restore Patonga environment

Patonga Bushcare will receive $10,903 for the restoration of the natural coastal and riparian environment of Patonga through the Federal Government's Natural Heritage Trust's Envirofund.

Member for Robertson Mr Jim Lloyd said that the Patonga group was one of five projects which had been allocated a total of $67, 014 in the electorate of Robertson in 2002-03, under the first round of Australian Government Envirofund funding.

"With funding from the Australian Government Envirofund, these five groups will join the ranks of some 400,000 other Australians who have already been involved in more than 12,000 Natural Heritage Trust projects around the country.

"These projects have achieved significant on-ground outcomes, including the planting of over 26 million seedlings, the protection of 7730 square kilometres of native vegetation and the erection of 36,000 kilometres of protective fencing along our waterways.

"The Australian Government Envirofund is the new community focused component of the Howard Government's $2.7 billion Natural Heritage Trust," said Mr Lloyd.

"Through the Australian Government Envirofund community groups can apply for grants from a few hundred dollars up to $30,000 to carry out on-ground actions to target local problems such as water quality, protection of native vegetation, salinity and coastal erosion."

Mr Lloyd said he was delighted by the success of the five organisations in his electorate and urged all other eligible groups to apply in future rounds of Natural Heritage Trust funding.

For further information on projects funded by the first round of the Australian Government Envirofund please visit the Natural Heritage Trust web site at: http://www.nht.gov.au/projects

Press release, November 8