$7500 TO HELP GROUP IMPROVE SWEETWATER CREEK
3 August 2004
Local community group, Action Sweetwater Creek, has received $7500 to help improve the health of the creek, Minister for Water John Thwaites and Alistair Harkness, Member for Frankston, said today.
Mr Thwaites said improving the health of Victoria's rivers and streams was a key focus of the Bracks Government's Our Water Our Future action plan released earlier this year.
The funding is part of Melbourne Water's annual Community Grants program, which provides grants to support local environment and community group activities and works programs to improve rivers and creeks.
Mr Harkness said the group would undertake a project to control weeds in the lower Sweetwater Creek in order to allow natural regeneration of native species.
"The project builds on previous work by the group and Frankston City Council," Mr Harkness said.
"Volunteer community groups play a crucial role in protecting and improving our local rivers and creeks," Mr Thwaites said.
"These grants recognise the efforts of volunteers across Melbourne, and help them in their work to improve rivers, creeks, wetlands and their surroundings.
"In the long-term, we will see the health of our rivers and creeks improving as a result of many community groups, schools, and participants of the Melbourne Water Frog Census and Melbourne Waterwatch program helping to protect our waterways."
Mr Thwaites said the grants are available for equipment and resources, such as trailers and tools, or trees and shrubs for revegetation projects.
He said more than 35 volunteer community groups across Melbourne would share $80,000 to help improve Melbourne's rivers and creeks under the grants program.
"The Bracks Government plan to secure the State's water for the next 50 years - Our Water Our Future recognises the importance of healthy waterways. By providing these grants, it gives the community a chance to help improve the environment and secure our water for the future."
Since the Community Grants program started in 1999 more than $300,000 has been given to around 50 community groups across Melbourne.
Melbourne Water invests around $23 million each year protecting and improving rivers and creeks.