Riverina in good hands on World Environment Day
Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Luke Hartsuyker, said the Riverina community was working hard with the support of the Australian Government Landcare grants were generating practical results at a grass roots level across the Riverina.
Minister Hartsuyker was visiting properties in the region with local member and Minister for Small Business, Michael McCormack to see firsthand Landcare projects in action on World Environment Day.
“The World Environment Day theme this year is ‘Connecting People to Nature’, urging us to think about how we are part of nature and how we depend on it. The government understands that dependence and supports the theme through the National Landcare Program and our $1.1 billion commitment,” Minister McCormack said.
“That is why we are committed to keeping Landcare front and centre to assist land managers and farmers to manage our soils, water, vegetation and biodiversity, looking after our environment and maintaining productive land.
“Like many areas in rural Australia, farmers in Grenfell and Oura face a number of challenges with soil degradation and erosion.
”At ‘River Run’ near Oura, we saw how Landcare’s investment in fencing and improved native vegetation cover was helping to protect local wildlife and restore the landscape.
“Again, at ‘Gilgara’ just outside Grenfell, we used the opportunity to see how Mark Shortis was drawing on holistic management principles to improve soils, groundcover, biodiversity, mineral and water recycling on his property.
“Good land management is the first step to controlling erosion and the work done here in the Riverina is evidence the Government was right on the money in announcing a $1.1 billion investment in a new National Landcare Program in the recent budget.
Minister Hartsuyker said visiting local Landcare sites was a valuable opportunity to hear and see firsthand how properties were managed to ensure improved production in a sustainable manner.
“When you travel around you have an appreciation of how our billion dollar plus investment in improving the condition of our natural resources like soil health is being undertaken,” Mr Hartsuyker said.
“You appreciate the practical uses of the research and innovation on the ground and how it drives productivity, profitability, competitiveness and sustainability in our agricultural industries.”