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$3.2 Million Flows To Gippsland Lakes Protection

Acting Premier John Thwaites today announced $3.2 million in funding for projects to help restore the health of the Gippsland Lakes.

By Department of Sustainability and Environment - 7th January 2004 - Back to News

"The Gippsland Lakes are a Victorian icon and they are under threat from a number of human activities, including high pollutant levels and reduced water flows," Mr Thwaites said.

"Tourism operators, fishermen, and ecosystems alike all depend on the health of the Lakes. We need to act now to ensure they have a sustainable future."

The funds will be channelled into 30 projects this financial year, as part of the $12.8 million package for the Gippsland Lakes Future Directions and Action Plan released in 2002. The Action Plan aims to reduce nutrient levels entering the Lakes by 40 per cent by 2022.

"Most people aren’t aware that the Gippsland Lakes catchment area spans almost 10 per cent of Victoria. Seven rivers flow into the Lakes, and actions of communities from Noojee in West Gippsland to Swifts Creek in the alpine foothills can impact on the Lakes’ health."

Under the latest round of funding, almost $1 million will be used to reduce nutrient run-off into waterways that enter the Lakes from irrigated areas in the Macalister Irrigation District.

"We are assisting landowners to develop whole farm plans as well as encouraging water reuse and more efficient irrigation techniques.

"Another $80,000 will be used to reduce industrial and commercial pollutants across the Gippsland Lakes catchment area."

Other funding includes:

• $150,000 to reduce nutrient run-off in high-rainfall grazing areas;
• $150,000 to further determine the volume and sources of sediment and nutrients entering the Gippsland Lakes system;
• $122,000 to establish an index of wetland conditions, enabling monitoring of improvements;
• $80,000 (for two projects) to ensure best practice management of dairy effluent in the catchment area;
• $35,000 to improve management of the protected Macleod Morass wetlands; and
• $225,000 to bushfire recovery projects that will benefit the Lakes.

Measurable improvements in the water quality are expected within five to 10 years, with follow-on improvements to the environment.

FUNDED PROJECTS 2003/04

GIPPSLAND LAKES FUTURE DIRECTIONS AND ACTION PLAN

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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