Government announces vegetation program
The Federal Government has unveiled a new plan that will see an area almost 80 times the size of the Melbourne Cricket Ground vegetated with native seedlings, shrubs and grasses in the Coorong Lower Lakes Murray Mounth wetlands.
The plantings are underway in South Australia's iconic Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) region.
Sustainability, Environment and Conservation Minister Ian Hunter said the collaborative approach to revegetating such an important environmental asset is integral to the program's success.
"While this vegetation program is funded by the Australian and South Australian Governments, it could not be completed on such a large scale without the support and involvement of the local community, as well as the region's Traditional Owners, the Ngarrindjeri," Mr Hunter said.
"The community has been at the forefront of the vegetation work in the CLLMM region, propagating many of the plants required, and providing thousands of volunteers to help put the plants in the ground.
"And the local community has also played a central role in identify priority areas for plantings, with the Goolwa to Wellington Local Action Planning Association (GWLAP) leading the community input."
Federal Water Minister Tony Burke said as the system is being restored to health we can never forget just how bad the situation became not long ago.
"The fact is, to repair the magnificent areas of the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth now takes more than simply adding water," Mr Burke said.
"While the Murray Darling Basin Plan locks in the water required to restore the system to health, this planting work ensures the whole ecology starts to get back to what it always should have been.
"The Ngarrindjeri leadership has forever been on the side of environmental health. This project allows the Australian Government to lend a helping hand as the Ngarrindjeri and the local community lead the work to bring everything back to life."