THE Naragebup Rockingham Environment Centre and the Wandi Landcare Group have received a $21,000 grant from the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program.
They are among the 35 community-run groups to receive a share of $600,000 for a total of 41 rehabilitation and revegetation projects projects throughout the year.
Projects include foreshore, wetland and bushland restoration, drain building for living stream projects and the creation of bushland corridors.
Alcoa of Australia was the founding partner in the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program (SALP) 12 years ago and the program is now administered by the Perth Region NRM (formerly Swan Catchment Council), and funded by Alcoa, the Swan River Trust and Lotterywest.
Alcoa managing director Alan Cransberg said the program enabled change at a grassroots level by building the capacity of several |community-based landcare groups.
“I have seen first-hand the achievements of some of these groups and their efforts and dedication in protecting the environment,” he said.
The Rockingham Environment Centre will use the funds for bushland recovery in the Lake Richmond area.
Centre administrator Christine Comer said the grant would support the restoration of lowland bushland to original native condition and stabilise native areas, encouraging natural native fauna.
“This is all part of our on-going efforts to meet our goal of returning the Lake Richmond Reserve to its natural condition,” she said.
Wandi Landcare Group with the Town of Kwinana have received SALP funding for the past three years and have used it towards the revegetation of Lake Magenup Dampland.
Town of Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams said the consistency of the funding had greatly benefited the group by enabling it to follow up with weed control in both the revegetation sites and in the control of the arum lily that was a nominated weed of national significance.
“As a result of this weed control, in conjunction with summer watering, there has been a very good survival rate of natives planted – almost 80 per cent survival of 2008 and 2009 plantings,” she said.
Applications are now open for the 2011 SALP funding round and forms are available on www.perthregionnrm.com.