Don’t cut off the community

Author: Mia Davies
Published on: 09-December-2009

Community, especially in the bush and agricultural regions, is critical in maintaining unity as well as improving the social as well as the natural environment that plays such a critical role in a successful agricultural industry. I urge grassroots and community groups to continue their hard work and apply for State Government funds to undertake important work to protect and enhance our natural resources.

Agriculture Minister Terry Redman recently announced $5 million for community and regional natural resource management groups, recognising community groups as people who truly deliver effective programs that make a real difference to the lives of regional people. Projects that tackle erosion, threatened species and eradicate pests and weeds are being undertaken every day by passionate local people who intimately understand the environment and natural resources in their region.

However the Commonwealth Government has taken decisions to undermine the hard work of these groups by recently changing how they fund them. As a result WA has seen a massive reduction in funding for community groups, from $110 million to $55 million for next year, as well as funding ceasing for state partnerships in community work.

These changes to Commonwealth funding have lead the State to reassess where State funds for such groups are directed, with colleague and fellow Nationals Minister Redman announcing five priority areas. These areas include the protection of native wildlife as well as agriculture from threats, improvements in water quality and improved integration with the state planning process, ensuring more relevant action from the state in rural areas.

Groups can apply for grants between $500 and $250,000 to undertake projects that address these important areas and ultimately, protect and improve the natural resources in WA. $20.4 million has already been allocated this year from the State for larger community projects and Minister Redman has said he expects to see much of these bigger projects delivered by community groups in partnership with government departments.

I am very keen to see community groups directly involved with these larger projects and will be watching closely to ensure this continues to happen for the good of the people of WA.