Volunteer community groups look after Canberra Nature Park’s 30 reserves, weeding, planting, controlling erosion, restoring habitat, protecting threatened species, closing mountain bike trails, and conducting walks. But without assured funding, some of their most cherished plans have been castles in Spain. Until now.
This week, Rebecca Vassarotti, Minister for the Environment, revealed that the ACT Government would provide secure, stable funding to environmental volunteer groups over the next four financial years.
“The Canberra community plays a critical role in caring for the ACT environment,” Ms Vassarotti said in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday. “I want to ensure financial support for those volunteer organisations and volunteers who truly love and understand their neighbourhoods.”
Landcare ACT, ParkCare, the three ACT catchment groups (Ginninderra Catchment Group, Molonglo Conservation Group, and Southern ACT Catchment Group), ACT Wildlife, and urban park groups have provided localised, dedicated care for the environment for decades, Ms Vassarotti said
Now Canberra’s environmental volunteer groups at last have the funding certainty they have sought for years. That means, for instance, that the Southern ACT Catchment Group can apply for competitive grants and plan multi-year projects, or the Mt Taylor Parkcare Group can restore a larger area of habitat for the pink-tailed worm lizard – a project that would otherwise have been out of reach.
“This is the government putting its money where its mouth is, and supporting its grassroots volunteers, something we’re really excited about seeing continue,” Kathy Eyles, head of the Mt Taylor group, said.
Landcare volunteers contribute more than $2 million in in-kind hours, working with Indigenous people to look after urban areas, waterways, and the countryside.
“With this funding, the impact of their work will only grow,” said Landcare ACT’s CEO Karissa Preuss.
Environmental volunteering also had health benefits, Ms Vassarotti argued. A recent KPMG report states that people connected to the environment are healthier and happier, saving $403 in healthcare costs each year.
Ms Vassarotti herself had spent her weekend helping the Southern ACT Catchment Group, she told the Assembly. She encouraged her colleagues to try it; it dissipated workplace stress and improved wellbeing. The very thing, perhaps, to relieve the tension of heated political debate?
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