The people of the South East and Limestone Coast are among the communities who will be first to benefit from Australian Government investment under the Regional Land Partnerships component of the National Landcare Program’s second phase.

The Australian Government today announced that it has selected 47 organisations across Australia to deliver on-ground environment and sustainable agricultural projects under the Regional Land Partnerships program.

Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, David Littleproud, said that this signals the start of Regional Land Partnerships under the second phase of the National Landcare Program.

“These 47 successful tenderers have demonstrated that they have the knowledge, capability and experience to deliver the services as needed by the community, at a price that provides the best value for money for the Government,” Minister Littleproud said.

Assistant Minister for the Environment, Melissa Price, said that the Government looks forward to working with successful service providers and the community to deliver projects that will benefit, not only our environment, but also our economy and our towns and cities.

“The Australian Government is proud to continue its long-standing commitment to natural resource management by investing $450 million over the next five years in local and regional-scale projects that will help deliver national priorities,” Assistant Minister Price said.

“Through the Regional Land Partnerships program, the Government is investing in projects that will help us meet the needs of our local communities and deliver on our international obligations and national priorities.”

The Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin MP welcomed the announcement as great news for the people of South East.

“I wish to congratulate the South East Natural Resources Management Board (South East NRM Board)as the successful tenderer chosen to help the Government deliver its natural resource management priorities in the region,” Mr Pasin said.

“I’m pleased to say that the people of the South East will be among those who will benefit from the first wave of new projects to be delivered under the Regional Land Partnerships program.

“One of the South East NRM Board projects to be delivered will improve the trajectory of the nationally endangered South-eastern Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, a priority species under the Threatened Species Strategy.

“We are also looking forward to a project to enhance the Coorong National Park and manage Ramsar values along the Limestone Coast and a project to adapt the South East agricultural industries to adapt to changes in climate and markets.

“It is worth pointing out that community engagement is a major component of the service delivery, with at least 20 per cent of project budget dedicated to supporting small, on-ground projects that are delivered by, or directly engage with, the local landcare community.”

For further information on the Regional Land Partnerships, visit: http://www.nrm.gov.au/