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Environment Agriculture | June 05, 2017

Kealy – Funding for Project Platypus finally confirmed

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy MP has commended Landcare groups across the region for their strong advocacy to secure funding for a part-time Landcare facilitator to support Project Platypus.

Ms Kealy escalated the matter in Parliament in March to emphasise the need for this position to be funded to allow the vital work being undertaken by Project Platypus to continue.

The Andrews Labor government promised this funding in late 2016, however just weeks ago Project Platypus had still not received the money and was seriously concerned it may have to fold.

“Labor’s failure to providing funding when first promised resulted in Project Platypus reaching crisis point and was close to folding”, Ms Kealy said.

“Labor’s all talk and no action approach severely impacted on the ability for Project Platypus to plan and implement projects vital to supporting our local environment.

“This was a stressful distraction for a fantastic organisation working to help local farmers improve our local environment”, she said.

Project Platypus supports landholders and a network of Landcare groups across the Upper Wimmera Catchment to improve catchment health and delivers large scale environmental projects such as revegetation, erosion control works and invasive plant and animal control.

“I congratulate everyone involved in Project Platypus for their tenacity and ongoing commitment to ensuring the future sustainability of our local environment,” Ms Kealy said.