Exerpt from Canberra Weekly Article:
“Environmental volunteer groups will receive $3.5 million from the ACT Government over the next four years to help them maintain and improve Canberra’s iconic landscape, Environment Minister Rebecca Vassarotti revealed ahead of the 2021-22 Budget being handed down on 6 October.
The Southern ACT and Ginninderra Catchment Groups and the Molonglo Conservation Group will share in $1.68 million over the next four years. The Ginninderra Catchment Group’s citizen science program, FrogWatch, will receive another $360,000. Also, ACT Wildlife will receive $427,000 to rescue, rehabilitate, and release native animals, while a ParkCare ranger will be appointed in the north.
Grateful for the funding, Southern ACT Catchment Group (SACTCG) executive officer Martine Franco said it would guarantee more developed projects, and longer-term planning and relationships with its member groups: small park care and land care groups, and rural landholders.
“Secure funding like this means that we can work with the community in ongoing ways, so that we can connect people to nature and respond to community needs,” Ms Franco said.
Ms Franco looked forward to working with the ACT Government to support community action to improve the local environment.
Anyone who wants to join a Landcare group can contact their local catchment group: Southern ACT Catchment Group, Ginninderra Catchment Group, or Molonglo Conservation Group.
Urban groups had grown exponentially in recent years, and there was always room for more groups to care for local urban parks and reserve lands, Ms Franco said. Anybody interested in starting up a group can contact their local catchment group.
“We will support them to get a group going. We will give them the tools; we will link them up with the government agencies that manage that piece of land; and we will give them as much information and support as they need to get a group going.”
We are excited to continue our work and increase our support for our member groups.
