PEEL Harvey Catchment Council chief executive Jane O’Malley was among natural resource management (NRM) chief executives from around Australia who met in Canberra last week.
They came together to share knowledge and consider the future for the National Landcare Program beyond 2018.
Funding for the 56 NRM programs across Australia enables regions to support local communities to deliver local solutions.
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READ NOWMs O’Malley said the meetings with influential decision makers – including the Minister for Environment and Energy Josh Frydenderg – aimed to ensure future programs for NRM will continue to provide flexibility for on-ground works and building community capabilities via regional delivery.
“The National Landcare Program has achieved excellent on-ground results, supporting Landcare groups, farmers and communities to improve productivity and environmental outcomes,” she said.
“Its survival beyond 2018 is critical to Peel-Harvey’s ecological health.”
The meeting with Minister Frydenberg was hosted by Canning MHR Andrew Hastie, who supports the need for NRM in local communities.
“It was a pleasure to host the Peel Harvey Catchment Council in Canberra to support the National Landcare Programme and highlight the importance of grassroots organisations providing local environmental solutions,” Mr Hastie said.
Other meetings included discussions with the Threatened Species Commissioner Gregory Andrews on biodiversity priorities, and advisers to the Minister of Environment and Energy on the Perth and Peel Strategic Assessment.
“We are actively advocating on behalf of our community to reverse the decline of our estuary and rivers,” Ms O’Malley said.
“Working with our governments at the State and Federal level is so important to achieve real outcomes at a local level.”