20 Nov 2021
Boosting bushfire recovery and stimulating Ag industry in Mayo | Media Release
BOOSTING BUSHFIRE RECOVERY AND STIMULATING AG INDUSTRY IN MAYO
The Australian and South Australian Governments are providing $3.8 million in funding for agricultural remediation projects in Mayo communities as part of the continuing investment in recovery from the 2019-20 bushfires.
Senator for South Australia Andrew McLachlan CSC said the projects are part of the jointly funded Commonwealth-State $700 million Local Economic Recovery program.
“These latest projects for pest, debris and weed eradication initiatives will support agricultural recovery as well as boost agricultural production on Kangaroo Island and at Cudlee Creek,” Senator McLachlan said.
Four projects have received funding, which include:
- Eradication of feral pigs on Kangaroo Island,
- Removal and rehabilitation of bushfire-impacted small-scale pine and blue gum plantations at Cudlee Creek,
- Removal and rehabilitation of bushfire-impacted small-scale blue gum plantations on Kangaroo Island and;
- Removal and control of blue gum wildling seedlings on Kangaroo Island.
The funding for these four projects is in addition to the $19.8 million already committed to Kangaroo Island’s new desalination plant, the $150,000 in funding to help restore the Lobethal Bushland Park and the almost $29 million allocated to boost local economies in February this year.
“These latest projects were selected after close consultation with local councils, recovery committees and community groups,” Senator McLachlan said.
“The clean-up of small plantation forestry on both Kangaroo Island and at Cudlee Creek, and feral pig eradication and blue gum regeneration management on Kangaroo Island will have practical implications for primary production in Mayo, with the added bonuses of providing economic stimulus and reducing our disaster risk.
“Nationally, the Australian Government has made $2.8 billion available to support bushfire recovery – with $2.5 billion delivered so far.”
This includes:
- Over 27,000 grants and loans to small business and primary producers
- Over 200,000 recovery payments and allowances to individuals
- Increased battery-back up to mobile phone towers at 404 sites across regional and remote Australia
- Over 3,200 payments to emergency volunteers
- Connectivity upgrades at 111 fire service depots and evacuation centres
- Initiatives for wildlife and habitat recovery
- Over 4,900 properties cleared of debris (jointly funded with the states)
- Over 400 Local Economic Recovery projects now underway (jointly funded with the states)
For more information visit: www.recovery.gov.au/our-community/local-bushfire-recovery-projects