Federal Nationals Member for Page Ian Causley said 20 projects by landcare groups, private landowners and other organisations would share $239,569 from the Australian Government's Envirofund to carry out important practical action to protect our land, waterways, vegetation and threatened species. The balance of funding will be contributed by the successful recipients.

Mr Causley said Envirofund money was allocated to projects with effective actions, and to help groups improve their knowledge and skills to target local problems.
He said the types of projects funded may include waterway protection, tree-planting, erosion control, or fencing to protect habitat of endangered animals and vegetation.
"The Coalition is committed to supporting local communities at the coalface in their efforts to develop solutions to environmental and natural resource management challenges in their area," Mr Causley said.
"In fact, this is the very essence of the Government's Envirofund - harnessing the local knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm of community groups to help our local environment."

Funding allocations include:

· $12,218 to assist landowners G E & L M Clarke and P A & W A Clarke to protect and enhance 2km of the Richmond River through fencing, planting of 4000 native trees and implementation of off-stream watering points to protect river banks and stabilise river bank erosion.
· $21,980 to help Rosebank Landcare protect platypus, koala and waterbird habitat and restore and enhance biodiversity along 3km of Yankey Creek.
· $6590 to aid Aljoy Plantations Pty Ltd to establish 1420 trees and mid-storey species on two separate cane farms in the Woodford Island area as part of a strategic plan to establish and link habitat corridors on the Lower Clarence Floodplain.
· $3659 to assist landowner Carlo De Nardi to rehabilitate 12 acres of gullies, springs and two creeks to re-establish indigenous rainforest and improve the quality of the water flowing into the Marom Creek water catchment area.
· $8543 to help the Dyraaba Creek Landcare prevent further erosion of the floodway to Pigman Creek and restore vegetation along Pigman Creek.
· $5424 to assist the Ewingar Environment Group to acquire skills so the local community can undertake best management practices for environmental restoration and repair of Yate's crossing on the Clarence River.
· $17,170 to help the Terania Creek Landcare Group restore riparian vegetation and create a weed free corridor by planting 4793 native plants.
· $10,044 to assist landowner Helen White to provide an area of 3 acres of prime koala food trees and an acre of riparian rainforest regeneration by planting 3000 native plants to enhance and extend a wildlife corridor.
· $21,679 to enable Clarence Landcare to protect and enhance native riparian vegetation, improve water quality and habitat by conserving natural water levels in the local creek pools during times of no flow.
· $5,909 to help landowners Chris and Catherine Magner to provide off stream watering points to manage stock access to the Richmond River and Walsh's Creek reducing degradation in the riparian zone.
· $29,140 to the Kyogle Landcare Group for farm bank restoration of Gradys, Lynchs and Eden Creeks.
· $8296 to assist landowner Megan Gallagher to improve wetland condition and fish habitat at Wardell riverfront.
· $27,650 to help the Waterlands Landcare Group restore a degraded riverbank by removing environmental weeds, provide fencing and planting of native trees, shrubs and grasses.
· $1,660 to assist landowner Peter Hughes to protect Tuntable Creek by providing fencing and an off stream stock watering point as well as enabling weed clearing and replanting of 450 rainforest species.
· $18,901 to help Ngulingah Local Aboriginal Land Council with its Cubawee Project which will enhance and regenerate the site by removing rubbish and fencing areas within the site to enable the planting of native trees, including native bush food and medicinal trees.
· $6440 to assist landowners J S & S A Allen to stabilise vertical streambank erosion on Duck Creek and enable fencing and replanting.
· $19,400 to assist landowners B A & L J Holden to erect fencing and establish 12 ha of local native species plantings providing windbreaks and corridors along drainage lines to reduce erosion on Bean Creek.
· $3,672 to help landowners L G, M N & S T Williams to address local salinity by fencing and replanting at Bonalbo.
· $4050 to assist J A & T A Moody stabilise crossings and enhance fenced reaches of Duck Creek
· $7139 to help the Upper Clarence Combined Landcare group to conduct a workshop and field day for Cats Claw control

Mr Causley said more money is being made available through the next round to help local community groups take important practical action to protect our land, waterways, coast and threatened plants and animals.
"The Envirofund is the community component of the Coalition's $3 billion Natural Heritage Trust, the largest environmental rescue effort ever delivered by any government," Mr Causley said.
"I urge community groups to apply for money to help them undertake projects to restore and conserve the local environment and contribute to sustainable natural resource management."