$24m commitment to State’s natural resources

Projects to protect and enhance Western Australia’s natural resources will continue to be supported as the State Government today announced $24million for the State Natural Resource Management (NRM) Program over three years.

Visiting a State NRM supported project on the Helena River in Perth’s eastern suburbs, Agriculture and Food Minister Ken Baston said the funding would assist with activities ranging from improving soil and water quality to weed management, coastal and riverbank protection and marine surveys.

“This is good news for many diverse projects, most of which involve volunteers, which play a key role in ensuring the protection, restoration and sustainable use of Western Australia’s natural resources, tackling threats to their condition and productivity,” Mr Baston said.

“Since the program began in 2009, more than 180 groups and organisations throughout WA have achieved impressive results with the support of State NRM Program funds. The value of key industries – including agriculture, fisheries, forestry and tourism – that are dependent on the condition and productivity of our natural resources is estimated at over $16billion annually.”

Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said the program was made possible with the funding support of $19.2million over three years from the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program.

Mr Redman said support from the Royalties for Regions program ensured the regional component of the program could continue to assist in underpinning economic development opportunities in the regions.

“The program will continue to focus on assisting local catchment or community groups with on-ground activities that protect or improve the natural resources of Western Australia,” he said.

In 2014-15 a State NRM plan and implementation strategy, co-ordinated by Department of Agriculture and Food, will be produced to guide the next round of funding from 2015-16.