February 23rd, 2022Helping Basin communities

The Australian Government has announced more successful grant recipients under the $20 million Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program, which is helping Basin communities to get out on the ground and restore their rivers and wetlands.
Minister for Resources and Water, Keith Pitt said the program was benefitting rivers, wetlands and communities throughout Mallee and the wider Basin.
“These grants provide a significant boost to the Mallee economy, providing almost $580,000 in funding and supporting local businesses and jobs in the process. This funding also builds on $116,000 in grants Mallee communities received in the previous round of the Healthy Rivers Program,” Minister Pitt said.
“With over 2.6 million Australians calling the Basin home, community-led grants like these empower our local communities to practical actions that protect their own stretch of river and help to improve lives and livelihoods now and into the future.”
Mmmember for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster, said the grants would benefit a number of communities across Mallee.
“It’s fantastic to see the Australian Government supporting Mallee by funding eight new Healthy Rivers grants for community-led projects to improve the health of our waterways,” Dr Webster said.
“Working with catchment managers, a landholder will work to restore a wetland near Wallpolla Island, building infrastructure needed to deliver environmental water to the wetland, and undertake weed control and revegetation.
“We’re seeing also strong community collaboration for a project on the Loddon River, where local farmers , catchment managers, and Boort schoolkids will get involved to plant 12,000 acquatic plants. This will allow them to release 200 critically endangered Silver Perch fingerlings and support other threatened fish species, such as the Murray Cod.”
“The Nationals in Government are ensuring that vital funding such as the Healthy Rivers Program is hitting the regions where it matters most. In Mallee, I have advocated in government for these grants for our region and am delighted to see them delivered locally.
Minister Pitt said today’s announcement was about putting communities back at the heart of the Basin Plan, with the Healthy Rivers Program forming a key part of the Australian Government’s Murray–Darling Communities Investment Package.
“My announcement of 72 projects in the latest rounds of the program total $11.5 million for communities ranging from Charleville to Murray Bridge to date, with more grants to come,” Minister Pitt said.
“Importantly, these projects will contribute to regional and rural economies across the Basin through supporting local jobs and purchasing of goods and supplies from local businesses, providing critical economic support in their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, drought and bushfires.”
For more information on the successful projects, visit the department’s website.
Fast Facts
• 72 Healthy Rivers grants are being funded under the second small grants and large grant round of the Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program, including at Gunbower Creek, Birchip and the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park.
• Across Mallee, these projects will undertake over 800 hectares of weed control and 900 hectares of pest species management, plant 16,000 seedlings and involve over 400 volunteers.
• $695,000, in total announced funding in Mallee across all rounds of the program.