MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has welcomed a commitment from NSW Deputy Premier Troy Grant to provide a $15 million boost to Landcare across NSW if the government is re-elected on March 28.
Mr Marshall said the huge funding boost would provide a foundation to ensure the long-term viability of Landcare networks across country NSW and the availability of on-ground facilitators across the state, including in the Northern Tablelands.
“Most pleasingly, it will enable the huge volunteer effort in this region to continue well into the future,” he said.
“Recently I met with Landcare representatives from across the Northern Tablelands who were concerned with recent cuts to their organisations by Local Lands Services,” Mr Marshall said.
“I am delighted that the government has listened to the concerns expressed by my colleagues and I and have pledged $15 million over the next term of government, a huge $13 million more than was allocated over this four-year term.”
Mr Marshall said the funding would build the capacity of local Landcare and other groups to improve their skills, knowledge and practices and to assist them to deliver on-ground projects.
“It will also unlock the potential of the thousands of volunteers in this region and their local projects to better manage our natural landscape,” he said.
Mr Marshall said the support would provide an extensive network of locally-based facilitators who will work with local Landcare groups to deliver strategically aligned programs as well as providing support and guidance.
“Volunteer land-carers will be able to get on with restoring their local sites – which is why they got involved in the first place,” he said.
“While the overarching objectives and outcomes from this program have been developed after consultations with representatives of Landcare, specific detail will be determined after extensive consultation with the farming community and the Landcare network.”