Federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek has visited Campbelltown as part of the election campaign.
While here, Ms Plibersek and the Labor Member for Macarthur, Mike Freelander, announced $800,000 in funding for two vital environmental projects.
This election commitment will invest $500,000 of that to boost waterway health and restore critical platypus habitat on the Nepean River.
The project will include establishing river snags for platypus, weed removal, and planting 5,000 plants over 7.3 hectares in Castlereagh Ironbark Forest.
Labor is also committing $300,000 to safeguard the future of koalas in South Western Sydney.
The funding will be used to restore 100 hectares of key koala habitat in the Georges River corridor, through activities like planting and weed treatment.
This would be the largest project of its kind in Sydney.
“I’m delighted that a re-elected Albanese Labor Government will back this project to help preserve and protect our local platypus and koala habitats,’’ said Dr Freelander.
“Macarthur is home to incredible flora and fauna, and I am committed to protecting and bolstering our environment, and with this announcement, I’m proud that our government is doing just that.”
This builds on the Albanese Labor Government’s other environmental investments, including over $550 million to better protect threatened plants and animals and tackle invasive pests.
Labor says they have also invested $200 million in over 100 projects to clean up rivers and waterways in urban areas.
Tanya Plibersek said no-one wants to imagine an Australia without iconic Aussie animals like platypus and koalas. “I want to make sure that our kids and grandkids will still be able to see them in the wild,’’ she s
Koalas and Wildlife need every cent. So every promise to help our Koalas, Platypus and all wildlife is great.
Thankyou to Dr Freelander for all his efforts.
However the numbers of Koalas and their friends hit on Appin Road means we need ALL the recommended Wildife Bridges by the NSW Chief Scientist in place NOW. Our Koala colony can’t wait !
Wildlife Bridges over or under Appin Road designed to take all sizes of wildlife with the attached Reserves and Wildlife Corridors including Mallaty Creek need to be all Australian Governments TOP PRIORITY. if we are going to have any chance of saving the remaining Koalas.
So far we have one Wildlife bridge completed on Appin Road.
Feel as though I’ve heard this spill re koala habitat and a labour commitment from last election and yet nothing came if it- the koala sanctuary???