Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton and Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt are pleased to announce nine community-led projects across the Parkes electorate have received funding under the first round of the Australian Government’s Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program.

Nine community-led projects across the Parkes electorate are receiving funding under the first round of the Australian Government’s Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program.

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said the grants would enhance the environment of communities across western New South Wales and the Murray–Darling Basin as a whole.

“These nine grants, totalling almost $280,000, will help our communities and farmers to improve the health of their local rivers and wetlands,” Mr Coulton said.

“In addition to being fantastic for the environment, these projects will support small businesses across the Parkes electorate and create real jobs – all of the grant recipients have a strong commitment to buying locally.

“One project in Dubbo will get local schoolkids involved in hands-on sustainable fishing workshops. They will learn about threatened native fish species like the Murray and Trout Cod, and threats to their populations. These students will have the skills and knowledge to be future stewards for our native fish.

“Near Narrabri, local farmers will fence off riparian zones to protect plants, prevent erosion and improve water quality. The cattle will be able to drink from separate watering points in their paddocks – improving cattle health as well as the environment.”

Minister for Resources and Water, Keith Pitt, said grants worth over $3 million would flow to communities across the Basin to undertake environmental projects.

“The grants will be a boost for communities and businesses from Goondiwindi to Strathalbyn, helping them to recover from the impacts of drought and COVID–19,” Minister Pitt said.

“This is just the first round of grants awarded under this program. Communities will again be able to apply in a second grants round opening soon.

“This program is a key part of the Australian Government’s Murray–Darling Communities Investment Package, which is putting communities at the heart of the Basin Plan.”

For more information on the successful projects, visit the department’s website.

Fast Facts:

• Nine Healthy Rivers grants valued at $279,000 are being funded in the Parkes electorate under the first small grants round of the Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program.
• Project activities will protect threatened species in Parkes including the Macquarie Perch, Trout Cod and Australian Painted Snipe.
• The first round is funding $3.08 million of small grants. Grants were available for projects valued between $5,000 and $50,000 (GST exclusive).
• Two further rounds – consisting of a small grants round and a large grants round – will open in mid-2021.

Parkes electorate funded projects:

Location	Grant recipient	Short project description	Funding (GST incl.)
Toongi	Orchard, A. & R.	Protection and regeneration of Hyandra Creek	$29,806.18
Narrabri	Lower Namoi Cotton Growers Association Incorporated	Restocking the Namoi River with Golden Perch and Murray Cod	$8,800.00
Warrumbungle	NSW Government Schools	A school and community approach to improving the Castlereagh River’s ecosystem	$55,000.00
Condobolin	Beattie, S. & S.	Exclusion fencing to protect the Lachlan River	$39,017.00
Dubbo	OzFish Unlimited Limited	Native revegetation along the Macquarie River	$41,635.00
Narrabri	Duncan, A.	Stock exclusion and riparian weed management on the Namoi River	$39,600.00
Dubbo	Department of Education	Sustainable fishing and aquaculture	$22,000.00
Condobolin	Beattie Enterprises Pty Ltd	Stock exclusion fencing on the Lachlan River	$17,600.00
Dubbo	Connective Indigenous Corporation	Riverbank rehabilitation to protect threatened species	$26,290.00