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The Rudd Government has acknowledged the efforts of local natural resource management, farming and community groups in Victoria, as they continue with painstaking fire rehabilitation work.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke and Minister for the Environment Peter Garrett today announced the Government had allocated funding to help continue the important local work.

More than $10 million has been allocated to six Catchment Management Authorities, as part of a package announced in March to help landholders, community and non-government organisations in areas affected by the Black Saturday bushfires, the West Gippsland fire in late January and the Wilsons Promontory fire in February.

• $907,000 to the North-East CMA – for work in communities affected by the Beechworth fire (32,336 hectares burnt)
• $4.98 million to Goulburn Broken CMA – for work in communities affected by the Kilmore East-Murrindini Complex fire (184,470 hectares burnt)
• $2.5 million to Port Phillip and Westernport CMA – for work in communities affected by the Kilmore East-Murrindini Complex fire; Bunyip State Park and Muskvale/Hogans Road fires (total 92,309 hectares burnt)
• $1.5 million to West Gippsland CMA – for work in communities affected by the fires at Wilsons Promontory, Delburn Complex, Churchill and Bunyip State Park (total 55,910 hectares burnt)
• $375,000 to East Gippsland CMA – for work in the area affected by the fire at Dargo-White Timber spur (total 14,316 hectares burnt)
• $370,000 to North Central CMA – for work in communities affected by the fires at Eaglehawk/Bracewell St, Redesdale/Coliban Park Road and Muskvale/Hogans Road (total 12,517 hectares burnt)

The funding will be used for projects such as:

• Fencing around significant vegetation, aquatic sites and state forests
• Weed control programs
• Erosion control on stream banks and around wetlands
• Planting sterile rye grass in agricultural soils at risk of erosion
• Care and rehabilitation of wildlife and habitat

Mr Burke said the work of the North East CMA and its partners, including farmers and other local community members, was a good example of the progress underway.

“This environmental work is a vital part of rebuilding the local economy, including helping local farmers get back on their feet,” Mr Burke said.

“Major industries in this region including beef cattle and dairying were badly affected by the fires, as well as some berry and green tea production.

“In other areas, industries such as aquaculture have also been affected.

“Repairing damage to local waterways, fencing sensitive areas and planting vegetation will help both the environment and the regional economy recover.”

Mr Garrett encouraged landholders in fire-affected regions to contact their local Catchment Management Authority to discuss specific projects.

“Tomorrow is World Environment Day and it’s important to recognise the great environmental work going on at a local level in these communities,” Mr Garrett said.

“These groups in fire-devastated areas have valuable local expertise which helps them to identify priorities in their regions.

“Regenerating native vegetation and re-establishing fencing to protect sensitive environmental areas will be important for local biodiversity.”

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