THE State Government will provide more than $54,500 in grants to maintain and upgrade Crown land reserves and community facilities across the Upper Hunter.
The grants are being provided by Crown Lands in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) from the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund (CRIF).
Upper Hunter electorate projects being funded include $29,028 to manage noxious weeds along the Williams River banks from Munni to Fosterton, and $25,488 to control weeds along Monkerai South Road and surrounding areas at Dungog.
The environmentally significant 23km stretch of river from Munni to Fosterton is impacted by riparian weeds, including water hyacinth and cats claw creeper, which if not controlled present a risk to the natural environment and nearby agricultural land.
The funding to control weeds such as privet, green cestrum, lantana and blackberry along Monkerai South Road will stop their spread into the bordering Monkerai Nature Reserve, protecting endangered plants and animals.
Duty MLC for Upper Hunter Emily Suvaal said, “These grants will help protect our precious natural environment by controlling invasive weeds that threaten our riverbanks and local reserves.
“By investing in the health of our Crown land reserves, we’re safeguarding vital habitats for native wildlife and supporting the agricultural land that many families depend on.”
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