Funding for Wildlife and Habitat Recovery
Published on 17 March 2021
Natural habitat corridors and reserves along bush fire affected roads in the Snowy Valleys will receive some much-needed TLC following the announcement of $150,000 grant from the Government’s Wildlife and Habitat Corridors & Reserves Project.
Snowy Valleys Council have been successful in accessing $150,000 to undertake a project of recovery, rehabilitation and restoration activities on significant areas of native flora and fauna habitat damaged in the bushfire disaster.
Council’s Executive Director Community and Corporate Paul Holton said the impact on the region’s environment has been devastating and the funding was a welcome start in the work required to help the land recover.
“The fires decimated many significant protected vegetation sites and natural vegetation corridors and habitats for both endangered and protected flora and fauna,” he said.
“The funding will help with the initial phase of an overall recovery and rehabilitation plan for the region, targeting restoration of over 300 km of natural habitat corridors and reserves along bush fire affected roads and adjacent public lands”.
Council has so far cleared damaged and destroyed vegetation on over 350km of road corridors and Mr Holton said that the important clean-up work has now created the perfect environment for weeds to emerge and spread unchecked due to the lack of natural competition.
“The grant monies will be used to undertake surveys and assessments of the significant habitats which will help to inform the implementation of a targeted invasive weed management plan,” said Mr Holton.
Identified species already emerging in road corridors include Blackberry, Oxeye Daisy, Briar, Amsinkia, Broom rapes, Various Thistles Broom, Holly, invasive Ivy, and morning Glory/periwinkle.
Council will collaborate with other agencies such as Aboriginal environmental working groups, Local Land Services and Landcare to ensure that the environment recovery effort is a coordinated one.
“Environment is one of the four pillars of recovery along with social, economic and built recovery and whilst Council has been successful in receiving this grant funding, there will definitely be a need for ongoing assistance to help our environment recover,” Mr Holton said.
In October 2020, $10 million was made available through open competitive grants under the Federal Government’s Bushfire Recovery for Wildlife and Habitat Community Grants Program.
In March 2021, 88 projects were announced as successful and will receive grants from $5,000 to $150,000 for bushfire recovery in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia.
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