Koala group explores grants funding

The Pearl Beach Patonga Koala Group has sought advice about the availability of a citizen science grant for its work on the basis of disaster resilience and preparedness and environmental change.

Federal Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Ms Karen Andrews said on November 5 that the grants provided an opportunity for communities across the country to participate in projects that could have a national impact.

Grants of between $150,000 and $500,000 were available to support projects that enabled community participation in four key research areas: disaster resilience and preparedness, environmental change, cyber security and artificial intelligence, and food and agribusiness, she said.

"Through this program, the Government is enabling Aussie scientists to collaborate with their local communities to contribute to our scientific knowledge and come up with innovative solutions to some of our biggest national challenges."

Pearl Beach Cromellin Native Arboretum vice-president Ms Ann Parsons said the group had met with Associate Professor Temitope Akinbinu- Egbelakin from the University of Newcastle and Central Coast Council's principal strategic environmental planner Dr Chris Mclean to discuss the grant.

Member for Robertson Ms Lucy Wicks said on November 23 that the Government had announced that day an $18 million "koala package".

She said it would "support the conservation community to respond to the devastating 2019-20 summer bushfire season which impacted important habitat for koalas and other threatened species right across Australia".

She said: "By funding health research, medical support and the restoration of key habitat sites, we're working to protect this remarkable species into the future." SOURCE: Social media, 23 Nov 2020 Ann Parsons, Pearl Beach Patonga Koala Group Lucy Wicks, Member for Robertson