Landholders in the Central West Local Land Services (LLS) area are now able to apply for Cultural Heritage Site Assessment funding totalling $18,000 to raise awareness of cultural sites on private lands.
Grants of up to $6,000 will support landholders to understand what culturally significant areas are on their land and its importance in the landscape. The grants are part of the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme and managed locally by the Central West LLS-one of Australia’s 56 regional natural resource management organisations.
Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt, said that this is a prime example of landholders, Local Land Services and the Aboriginal community working together to identify and protect sites of cultural significance.
“Through these Cultural Heritage Site Assessment grants, landholders are invited to better understand and protect sites that are culturally important to the wider community,” Mr Hunt said.
Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, said that it is pleasing to see that Australia’s 56 regional natural resource management organisations are directing more than 20 per cent of their National Landcare Programme funding to help support grant rounds such as these, as well as other local community engagement activities.
“This is crucial because farmers, landcarers and Indigenous groups know what works best for their properties, environment and communities,” Mr Joyce said.
Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton, said that the Central West LLS works closely with the local community to reach a shared understanding of the cultural, environmental and agricultural issues facing the Central West region of NSW and what work is needed to address them.
“By getting involved, landholders working in natural resource management can help ensure the grant programme is used to its maximum benefit, targeting local and regional priorities,” Mr Coulton said.
The Australian Government is investing $2 billion to help support better natural resource management across Australia. As part of this commitment $1 billion will be invested through the National Landcare Programme, including more than $450 million directed in regional funding to Australia’s 56 natural resource management organisations.
For more information on this grant round and how to apply, please visit the Central West Local Land Services website at www.centralwest.lls.nsw.gov.au
For more information go to www.nrm.gov.au