Resilient Rivers for Resilient Hawkesbury Platypus Populations funding success for Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterways
Western Sydney University has been awarded $1 million over the next three years under the Urban Rivers and Catchment Program, funded by the Albanese Labor Government. The funding will support direct on-ground action to help better protect the Hawkesbury-Nepean River’s local platypus populations.
The ‘Resilient Rivers for Resilient Hawkesbury Platypus Populations’ project will establish a network of ‘Platypus Parks’ along a stretch of the iconic river and its tributaries, protecting and providing habitat for this elusive native species, in collaboration with the Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance (opens in a new window).
By working with First Nations peoples, private landholders, stakeholders, and active community groups sixty per cent of funding will be dedicated to on-ground initiatives to enhance habitat connectivity and riparian health.
“I’m very excited to have delivered this $1 million investment through the Hawkesbury Environment Network (HEN) and involving Western Sydney University, so we have local, world-leading platypus experts investigating and making decisions about how to best protect our waterways,” said Ms Susan Templeman, Federal Member for Macquarie.
Dr Michelle Ryan, the Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper and Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University’s School of Science, is currently leading urban platypus research in the region of which this project will continue to support.
“Urban platypus populations are under immense pressure. A major step forward in conservation efforts is the federal government’s investment in the protection of critical habitats in three regions of our catchment,” said Dr Ryan.
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP and Ms Susan Templeman MP joined the Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance in June on the Hawkesbury campus to discuss this project’s future plans and to meet the team leading the on-ground activity.
The Hawkesbury Environment Network’s committee member, Ms Jocelyn Howden, said “The project is a wonderful opportunity for the Hawkesbury District and the amazing biodiversity in the local rivers, wetlands, and waterways. We will work with the community and the University to realise great outcomes for the platypus and its precious habitat."
This funding is part of the Government’s $200 million investment in projects that help community groups, NGOs, councils, and First Nations groups clean up and restore local urban rivers and waterways.
“We want to support the groups on the ground who understand the needs in their community and are working to better manage and restore their local environment. Nearly half of all nationally listed threatened animals and a quarter of our threatened plants occur in urban areas. We need to act now to protect them,” said the Minister for the Environment and Water, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP.
This project will be delivered by Western Sydney University in partnership with Hawkesbury Environment Network and supported by the members of the Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance including Cattai Hills Environment Network, Streamwatch and the Hawkesbury-Nepean Landcare Network, with support from Local Land Services Greater Sydney and other collaborative stakeholders.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for First Nations people, who have a long-standing connection to the Hawkesbury-Nepean River, to take an active role in caring for the culturally significant platypus. The project acknowledges the importance of First Nations voices in managing local waterways which are vital to allowing Country, the platypus and other wildlife to thrive," said Brad Moore, Senior Land Services Officer (Aboriginal Communities), Local Land Services Greater Sydney.
Works under this project will commence later this year. “We will be reaching out for opportunities to get involved in free community events and workshops,” said Ms Jen Dollin, Director, Sustainability Education and Partnerships, at Western Sydney University.
ENDS
8 August 2024
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