NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall has invited the region’s Local Aboriginal Land Councils to apply for a share of $200,000 to help clean-up and prevent illegal dumping on Aboriginal land.
Mr Marshall said round 2 of the Aboriginal Land Clean-Up and Prevention grants were part of the state government’s flagship $465.7 million Waste Less Recycle More initiative.
The following Land Councils are being urged to apply for a grant:
• Anaiwan Local Aboriginal Land Council;
• Armidale Local Aboriginal Land Council;
• Ashford Local Aboriginal Land Council;
• Collarenebri Local Aboriginal Land Council;
• Glen Innes Local Aboriginal Land Council;
• Guyra Local Aboriginal Land Council;
• Moree Local Aboriginal Land Council;
• Mungindi Local Aboriginal Land Council; and
• Toomelah Local Aboriginal Land Council
“I have seen the impact that illegal dumping has on communities. It affects community amenity, community pride and it causes pollution,” Mr Marshall said.
“I encourage all Local Aboriginal Land Councils to apply for this second round of funding to investigate potential measures that could reduce illegal dumping,” he said.
Individual grants of between $5,000 and $50,000 are available. Eight Local Aboriginal Land Councils were awarded $253,353 in the first round of grants.
The Government has allocated a total of $58 million to reducing illegal dumping as part of the Waste Less Recycle More initiative, and these grants to Local Aboriginal Area Land Councils are an important part of this initiative.
Mr Marshall said that illegal dumping had become a major issue for Local Aboriginal Land Councils.
“Land Councils are facing substantial costs in cleaning up the rubbish dumped and I welcome the funding from the Waste Less Recycle More initiative. This will help Land Councils to address illegal dumping and work to prevent illegal dumping on Aboriginal Land,” he said.
The grants are open to all NSW Local Aboriginal Land Councils. Applications close on Monday, 2 November 2015. For details visit: www.epa.nsw.gov.au/wastegrants/alcup.htm