The Queensland Government is investing more than $10 million in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region in North Queensland to reduce weeds, control feral animals and improve land condition.
The major investment into NQ Dry Tropics is part of the $117.84 million Natural Resource Management Expansion Program, delivered in partnership with NRM Regions Queensland.
The locally delivered projects will focus on threat mitigation and protecting vulnerable coastal and wetland ecosystems, and include:
- $3.7 million to improve the condition of 1450 hectares of grazing land, native vegetation and wetlands across the Lower Burdekin.
- $4.4 million to protect coastal and wetland ecosystems in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region by reducing pressures from weeds, pests, fire, and human-related disturbance across more than 120 hectares of land and 30 kilometres of streambanks and waterways.
- $1.9 million to support landholders in the Townsville Offshore and Lower Burdekin catchments with weed management and feral animal control across 26 hectares, along with fire protection using low intensity burns and coordinated fire management planning across an additional 2000 hectares.
Minister for Natural Resources and Mines and Member for Burdekin Dale Last said the latest injection of funding was supporting Queensland’s environment and keeping jobs local.
“This region is especially important to me, and it gives me great pride to deliver for the local community and our natural assets,” Minister Last said.
“Through our $117.8 million Natural Resource Management Expansion Program, the Crisafulli Government is putting local knowledge to work to deliver real results on the ground.
“These NRM organisations are leading the way in safeguarding our natural resources and that’s why we’re proud to support them and invest in Queensland’s future.”
NQ Dry Tropics CEO Dr Scott Crawford and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last.
NQ Dry Tropics CEO Dr Scott Crawford said the funding would support vital efforts to improve land, water and biodiversity in the Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM region, which covers eight per cent of Queensland.
“This investment demonstrates strong government backing for NQ Dry Tropics and its sister natural resource management (NRM) organisations across Queensland,” Dr Crawford said.
“Protecting our environment is a shared responsibility, and the projects we deliver in the region under this funding will be practical, science-based, and founded on strong community partnerships.
“For example, the Fighting Invasive Species Together project will strengthen collaboration between graziers and Traditional Owners to better manage the threat of feral animals and invasive weeds.
“The Climate-Ready Coastlines project will repair high-priority coastal habitats and help protect communities from the impact of flood and fire, and the Climate-Ready Rangelands project will support landholders to improve land condition, productivity and biodiversity on grazing properties.
NRM Regions Queensland CEO Chris Norman said the projects will support regional communities to deliver outcomes for the environment and for the economy.
“Natural Resource Management, at its core, is about bringing people together to care for our natural assets – our land and soil, our water, and our precious biodiversity,” Mr Norman said.
“Local communities have worked with regional NRM organisation NQ Dry Tropics to frame up the three projects announced today – which address some of the biggest threats to the region; working in the rangelands on climate resilience, fighting invasive species and ensuring our coastlines are climate-ready.
“We’re thrilled to be delivering NRM Expansion Program in collaboration with the Queensland Government.”