03 July 2009

Peter Garrett AM
Federal Member for Kingsford Smith
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts

Peter Garrett welcomed $1,528,000 in funding from the Rudd Government for the Improving Water Quality in the Botany Bay ‘Hot Spot’ project as part of the Caring for our Country program.

Mr Garrett announced the funding at Towra Point Nature Reserve, a Ramsar-listed wetland on the southern shore of Botany Bay.

“Our commitment of $1.5 million is a very strong and positive investment in improving the environmental health of Botany Bay.

“Some 50% of the wetlands in the Sydney region are here and it is really important in terms of our obligations under the Ramsar convention and also in relation to migratory bird species,” Mr Garrett said.

The Botany Bay project will be managed by the Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority and will allow for the implementation and monitoring of a water quality improvement plan for Botany Bay and its catchment.

“Caring for our Country is a critical, first-priority program because our economic health is underpinned by our environmental health,” Mr Garrett said.

The $403 million will fund:

• Feral animal suppression programs covering more than 178 million hectares to allow regeneration and recovery of critically endangered and threatened species and communities;
• Biological control of weeds of national significance across Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and NSW; 
• Around 3,000 additional primary producers using improved soil management methods on their properties; and 
• More than 1,000 community organisations to be involved in coastal conservation projects.
  

 For more information about Caring for our Country funding visit www.nrm.gov.au