Wednesday, 21 February 2024

Ministers statements: Green Links grants

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:08): I rise today in my capacity as Minister for Water to update the chamber with the recent announcement of a $10 million investment program to improve habitat and water quality and to provide cool, green spaces for communities around our urban creeks, rivers and waterways. Twenty-three projects have been recipients of the first round of this $10 million fund. This includes support for local councils, traditional owners, not-for-profit, community or environmental groups, catchment management authorities and water corporations, with five large-scale catchment projects receiving grants and 18 successful local-scale community projects.

Members will no doubt be delighted all around this chamber and indeed across the Parliament to hear of the wide variety of waterways that will benefit, including the Birrarung, Maribyrnong, KooyongKoot, Kororoit, Little River, Glen Iris wetlands, Werribee River, Yering billabong, Barwon and Moorabool rivers, Edgars Creek, Merri Creek, Yarrowee River, Moonee Ponds Creek, Steele Creek, Blackburn Lake, Stony Creek and Edwardes Lake. We are investing just over $6 million in total in this first round of projects, with a further $4 million for future rounds to come.

We have estimated that we will be able to revegetate around 200 hectares of land around our critical urban waterways. I am really delighted to confirm, however, that this first round of grants alone is expected to revegetate over 300 hectares across Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat. These areas are such an important part of the fabric of our urban environments. Making sure we have good landscapes for social, recreational, economic and environmental use is crucial, particularly in improving the health of rivers and creeks while we enjoy them, walk along them and treasure them in our every day. These have more than 1800 species of native plants and 600 species of native animals. Congratulations to all successful applicants – (Time expired)