Brisbane 5 December 2013. The Newman Government is injecting $2.32 million into the Wet Tropics region to support sustainable agriculture, tackle pest weeds and feral animals and to improve water quality.

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines and Member for Hinchinbrook Andrew Cripps said the Terrain NRM Ltd would manage three projects to address priority natural resources management challenges.

“We are investing $31 million over three years into projects right across Queensland to manage our natural resources, as part of the $80 million Queensland Regional Natural Resource Management Investment Program 2013-18 announced in the Queensland budget,” Mr Cripps said.

“The Newman Government promised to grow agriculture as one of the four pillars of the economy and this funding delivers on that election commitment.

“Many of the projects being considered by Terrain NRM Ltd will tackle issues such as pest weeds and congested watercourses.

“The Newman Government committed to addressing these bread and butter environmental issues and to supporting sustainable agriculture projects in the Wet Tropics to grow.”

“We are supporting the productive and responsible use of natural resources, something ignored by Labor.”

The three Wet Tropics projects are:

1.    Pests and weeds: FNQ Weeds – Local Action on Big Issues. $1,285,000
2.    Water Quality: working on waterways – enabling Wet Tropics Traditional Owner stewardship.  $540,000
3.    Sustainable agriculture: whole farm management - partnerships for resilient and profitable farming in Far North Queensland. $495,000.

“These projects will strengthen the agriculture pillar of the Queensland economy by improving the quality of our land and watercourses,” Mr Cripps said.

“They will support ongoing work to protect the unique biodiversity of Queensland’s Wet Tropics World Heritage area and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as building greater resilience against severe weather events.”

Chief Executive Officer of Terrain NRM Ltd Carole Sweatman said the projects would contribute to other significant work to protect the region’s unique ecosystems that cover nine diverse catchments including the Daintree, Barron, Mulgrave, Russell, Johnstone, Tully, Murray and Herbert catchments, as well as Trinity Inlet in Cairns.

“I am delighted with the success of this project funding from the Queensland Government,” Ms Sweatman said.

“It complements significant work and long established partnerships in this region to focus on issues directly affecting our communities, livelihoods, the land and water of the Wet Tropics.”