Mr BONSON - 2005-08-23
Earlier this year, government sought applications for EnvironmeNT Grants. How are these grants helping Territorians protect our great environment?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. Government believes in putting the community first on environment. I have spoken a number of times about our government’s commitment to preserving and conserving what is the mosta unique environment in Australia. Part of ourthat commitment is why we the establishedment of the EnvironmeNT Grants which support the many Territorians who give up their time to help our environment.
We are spending more than $1m on environment and heritage projects. Our EnvironmeNT Grants’ projects which we initiated certainly provide an open and fair way for all groups to access funding. I must say, the response since we implemented this grants program the response has been one of the most overwhelming responses, particularly from schools and different community groups. I have recently signed off on and approved funding for the 2005-06 grants, which is the second grant round.
This year, $190 000 will be provided from the EnvironmeNT Grants to support the operations of Northern Territory environment groups including Keep Australia Beautiful, The Environment Centre, the Arid Lands Environment Centre and the Environment Defenders Office. These are groups that work very hard to raise community awareness of environmental issues and encourage community action to fix problems.
We are providing funding for 25 environmental projects this year. I will not go through all them, however, just a few will give a sense of the breadth of this great initiative that have come forward. The Local Government Association will receive $10 000 to conduct a gamba grass publicity campaign, which is a very important issue in the Top End - I know the member for Nelson raises it often. I am sure that the member for Barkly will be interested to know that the Mabunji Aboriginal Resource Centre, I am sure the member for Barkly will be interested, will receive more than $26 000 to eradicate feral goats on West Island; and the Motor Traders Association will receive $20 000 to assist in their Green Stamp Program, which will help mechanical workshops to put in place better environmental practices and recognise their achievements.
There have been many projects that have come from across the Northern Territory. There are some that will be delivered by indigenous ranger groups, land care groups and organisations as diverse as the Darwin Surf Life Saving Club and the Northern Territory AgriculturalAvicultural Society. Each of these groups deserves our support and government is very happy to provide it.
Children are our future so In terms of who will inherit our great environment, even at a young age, particularly if we look at our schools and our kids, that is the future. Ffor the protection of the environment well into the future, our government created a separate schools category under the EnvironmeNT Grants. Twelve schools have been successful in receiving project grants. For example, St Francis of Assisi Primary School at Humpty Doo will receive money to establish a calendar garden to demonstrate how the seasons change our environment; Irrkerlantye Learning Centre in Alice Springs will receive funding to establish an indigenous bush food garden and sustainable arid zone garden; and Bradshaw Primary School will receive a grant for their water conservation project.
All upIn total, $460 000 will be spent under the EnvironmeNT Grants. It is going to many diverse groups and I look forward to seeing some of these great projects up and running.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. Government believes in putting the community first on environment. I have spoken a number of times about our government’s commitment to preserving and conserving what is the mosta unique environment in Australia. Part of ourthat commitment is why we the establishedment of the EnvironmeNT Grants which support the many Territorians who give up their time to help our environment.
We are spending more than $1m on environment and heritage projects. Our EnvironmeNT Grants’ projects which we initiated certainly provide an open and fair way for all groups to access funding. I must say, the response since we implemented this grants program the response has been one of the most overwhelming responses, particularly from schools and different community groups. I have recently signed off on and approved funding for the 2005-06 grants, which is the second grant round.
This year, $190 000 will be provided from the EnvironmeNT Grants to support the operations of Northern Territory environment groups including Keep Australia Beautiful, The Environment Centre, the Arid Lands Environment Centre and the Environment Defenders Office. These are groups that work very hard to raise community awareness of environmental issues and encourage community action to fix problems.
We are providing funding for 25 environmental projects this year. I will not go through all them, however, just a few will give a sense of the breadth of this great initiative that have come forward. The Local Government Association will receive $10 000 to conduct a gamba grass publicity campaign, which is a very important issue in the Top End - I know the member for Nelson raises it often. I am sure that the member for Barkly will be interested to know that the Mabunji Aboriginal Resource Centre, I am sure the member for Barkly will be interested, will receive more than $26 000 to eradicate feral goats on West Island; and the Motor Traders Association will receive $20 000 to assist in their Green Stamp Program, which will help mechanical workshops to put in place better environmental practices and recognise their achievements.
There have been many projects that have come from across the Northern Territory. There are some that will be delivered by indigenous ranger groups, land care groups and organisations as diverse as the Darwin Surf Life Saving Club and the Northern Territory AgriculturalAvicultural Society. Each of these groups deserves our support and government is very happy to provide it.
Children are our future so In terms of who will inherit our great environment, even at a young age, particularly if we look at our schools and our kids, that is the future. Ffor the protection of the environment well into the future, our government created a separate schools category under the EnvironmeNT Grants. Twelve schools have been successful in receiving project grants. For example, St Francis of Assisi Primary School at Humpty Doo will receive money to establish a calendar garden to demonstrate how the seasons change our environment; Irrkerlantye Learning Centre in Alice Springs will receive funding to establish an indigenous bush food garden and sustainable arid zone garden; and Bradshaw Primary School will receive a grant for their water conservation project.
All upIn total, $460 000 will be spent under the EnvironmeNT Grants. It is going to many diverse groups and I look forward to seeing some of these great projects up and running.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016