Natural Heritage - Number 21
The Journal of the Natural Heritage Trust
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia
Department of the Environment and Heritage, Spring 2004
ISSN 1440-7256
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About this document
This issue of Natural Heritage focuses on water quality and the protection and restoration of our waterways through the Australian Government's $3 billion Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) and $1.4 billion National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP).
Of all the inhabited continents, Australia has the least amount of water in its rivers. So, as the driest continent on earth, the protection of Australia's reserve of fresh water and restoration of degraded water systems is now more vital than ever.
Freshwater ecosystems provide economic and environmental benefits crucial to life and well-being. Water, delivered at appropriate times and of suitable quality and quantity, is vital to the health of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. It is also vital to our towns and cities and is an essential, non-renewable economic resource that underpins much of Australia's economic development.
Cooperation between governments, community groups, landholders, industry and science is the most effective way to ensure our rivers, streams, wetlands and underground water supplies can be used and enjoyed by future generations.
Since 1996, the Australian Government's Natural Heritage Trust has supported 680,000 volunteers in more than 12,000 projects around the country.
These projects include activities to reduce salinity in agricultural areas, protect priority river zone and floodplain habitats – including Ramsar sites, and enhance nationally-significant wetlands and migratory water bird habitats. As a result, 13,000 kilometres of waterways have been protected by fencing and fish migration routes have been restored.
In Western Australia the Northern Agricultural Region is taking a regional approach to protect and sustainably-manage the region's water resources (see page 11). With Trust funding, community rivercare support and working with farmers, the region is restoring water quality and native flora and fauna.
In South Australia, the Salt Interception Scheme featured on page 12, supported with $16 million in NAP funding, is helping to reduce about 150 tonnes of salt per day from the Murray River, which improves Adelaide's drinking water and water quality in the Murray Darling Basin.
In June this year almost $3 million was allocated over three years from the Natural Heritage Trust for River Recovery, a national program to help regions to restore river health.
In May this year $8.5 million was approved from the Australian Government Envirofund for 646 projects across Australia, which collectively address salinity, water quality, protection of native vegetation and coastal erosion.
Waterwatch Australia is another Australian Government initiative, which affects 200 catchments across Australia. Waterwatch recently received $400,000 from the Natural Heritage Trust to ensure the continued work of more than 50,000 volunteers nationwide in the monitoring of Australia's waterways.
There are a host of projects underway that tackle water quality issues and the Natural Heritage Trust and National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality continue to support the enthusiasm and innovation of local communities and regional environmental groups.
Senator Ian Campbell
Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Warren Truss
Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
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