Skip to main content

Share

Up to $16m to Protect the Far North’s natural resources

Words Juliana Foxlee | Photo Barry Lyon

Cassowaries and the endangered golden-shouldered parrot are among the winners in a $16 million investment for Far North Queensland.

The Australian Government’s Regional Land Partnership (RLP) program has invested in eight Far Northern projects covering threatened species, vulnerable ecological communities, the quality of soil on farms, erosion and water quality.

Cape York NRM, Terrain NRM and Northern Gulf Resource Management Group, working together as the NQ NRM Alliance, will deliver the RLP program from Ingham in the south to the tip of Cape York and out west to Karumba.  

The investment will fund five biodiversity projects focused on protecting littoral rainforest, woodlands and coastal vine thickets as well as cassowaries, the ant plant and the golden-shouldered parrot. 

It will also support the organisations to work with farmers across Far North Queensland over the next five years to deliver initiatives aimed at boosting farm productivity while improving habitat for native animals. 

These projects will tackle issues such as hillslope erosion and soil acidification, while providing workshops and programs to build farmer knowledge about soil management.  

Cape York NRM Chair Emma Jackson said the investment was a win for the Far North.

‘We are thrilled to be working with our NQ NRM Alliance partners to deliver this significant investment in conjunction with community partners’ she said. 

‘The projects support a whole range of improved management practices to better manage and maintain Far Northern lands and waters.

‘This investment will support livelihoods across the Far North, increase our knowledge of key threatened species and improve farming practices.’

Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said it was important to protect the unique environment of Far North Queensland. 

‘It is terrific news that the three NRM bodies across the region are working together to maximise the Government’s investment in our environment and I am excited that NQ NRM will be working with community partners to deliver these eight RLP projects to protect some of our most critical natural assets,’ he said.

‘This work will support local livelihoods across the Far North, increase our knowledge of key threatened species and improve farming practices.’

This project is supported by Cape York NRM through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program

Appears in:

Tags

Attributions