Funding for coastal awareness program

Umina resident Ms Jeannie Lawson has welcomed news that the Ocean and Coastal Care Initiatives Inc. (OCCI) will receive a grant of $7750.

The group, of which she is president, had applied for funding from the Federal Government's Natural Heritage Trust's Envirofund.

Member for Robertson Mr Jim Lloyd said: "With funding from the Envirofund, OCCI now has resources to conduct Project Aware on the Rocks of the Central Coast.

"Project Aware is an educational program aimed at the general community, where participants receive 20 hours of free training in exchange for conducting 20 hours (or more) of voluntary rock platform awareness-raising projects within the community," Mr Lloyd said.

"The Aware educational workshops will be presented by local experts in their field including NSW Fisheries, council officers, University lecturers in marine biology, multicultural specialists and communication tutors.

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

Press release, January 8