Coastcare Grants Announcements
The region has received over $820,000 as part of the federal
Government’s Caring for our Country Community
Coastcare programme. It brings the total of recently-announced
Commonwealth funding to over $5.5 million to deliver natural
resource management outcomes in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region,
including over $3 million for the Reef Rescue project and almost $2
million in Open Grants funding.
The Community Coastcare grants now form part of the Caring
for our Country business plan. Proposals for funding were
sought from May to July this year. A focus was placed on projects
that would:
- protect and
rehabilitate coastal environments and critical aquatic
habitats; and
- enhance
community skills, knowledge and engagement with
Indigenous Australians, volunteers and coastal
communities.
Dr
Rachel Allan, Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM Coastal and Marine Programme Coordinator,
said that the Communty Coastcare funding will
greatly benefit the local region. “The community coastcare
grants provide a further boost to our region. It enables us to
carry out much needed on-ground natural resource management
and enhance the community’s
involvement throughout the Burdekin Dry Tropics
Coast.”
Commenting on the funding awarded to Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM,
she said the project Empowering the community coastcare
movement in the Burdekin Dry Tropics will have a strong
community educational aspect as well as help train coastal
community groups on how to develop projects, apply for grant
funding and implement the projects.
“This project
raises the awareness and capacity of the Burdekin Dry Tropics
coastal community - specifically volunteer community groups,
traditional owner groups, schools and the broader community - to
implement future projects. It will also help to understand the
significance of migratory shorebirds, and appreciate the
relationship traditional owners have with dugong and turtle, which
are all issues of national significance.”
Coastcare week 2008
Coastcare Week is a national event held every year during the
first week of December. The aim is to celebrate our
nation's beautiful beaches, coastal culture and recognise the
fabulous people who care about our beaches. For Coastcare
Week 2008 BDTNRM teamed up with the Townsville Region Bird
Observers Club (TRBOC) to hold three free community events accross
the region, focussing on the conservation of shorebirds.
Summer time is a special time in our region as we have visiting
migrating birds from as far away as Alaska. Birds like the
the bar-tailed godwit can fly for up to 8 days continuously to land
on our shores to roost and feed. These
amazing migratory birds can be spotted on several of our
beaches, including Bushland Beach in Townsville, Alva Beach in the
Burdekin and Town Beach in Bowen.
And that's exactly where our Coastcare events were held
where the public were invited to do some bird watching with the
professional equipment and the bird specialists. Around a
hundred people came along to the events to see some fantastic bird
life and learn about their local environments.
Our shorebirds are under threat from unrestrained dogs and
vehicles disturbing them while they try to feed and rest.
Having lost over half their body weight in the journey, it's
important these birds can feed in peace. You can help by
ensuring your dog is kept on a leash on the beach and only driving
vehicles below the high tide mark in appropriate areas.
Bird watching at Bowen Town Beach
Coastal Books are available now!
The publications Coastal Birds of the Burdekin Dry
Tropics and Coastal Plants of the Burdekin Dry
Tropics are currently available from BDTNRM.
Please call 4724 3544 to obtain a copy.