$89,000 Boost For Coastal and Estuary Protection Projects Across Our Region

Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast Gareth Ward MP has today announced $89,000 funding for a number of local projects under the New South Wales Government’s Coastal and Estuary Grants Program.                                                                   

Mr Ward said that the following projects will receive funding:

• $45,000 for Shellharbour City Council – Restoration of Warilla sand dunes – The restoration of Warilla sand dunes project aims at restoring dune stability by replanting blow out areas due to natural deterioration of coastal wattle;
• $18,000 for Wollongong City Council – Restoration of  foreshore vegetation and drainage lines of Lake Illawarra – The project is centred on five highly degraded sites Holborn Wetlands, Berkeley Sailing Club, Wollomai Crescent drain, Grandview Minnegang catchment, Northcliff Minnegang catchment on the foreshore of Lake Illawarra in the Wollongong LGA;
• $13,500 for Kiama Municipal Council – Minnamurra coastal wetlands rehabilitation program – The project will control asparagus fern and other wetland weeds using Conservation Volunteers Australia bush regeneration crews in estuarine wetlands at the northern end of Charles Avenue, Minnamurra; and
• $12,500 for Kiama Municipal Council – Blue Angle Creek erosion control options analysis – This project will assess the bank erosion issues along the Blue Angle Creek and involve developing an erosion control options assessment report. There are two priority areas where erosion is active which is impacting the social and environmental values of Blue Angle Creek and the Crooked River. 

“These grants are apart of 19 approved Coastal and Estuary implementation grants to 16 councils totalling over $2.6 million for a range of projects from beach erosion mitigation to coastal wetland rehabilitation,” Mr Ward said.

“The NSW Government’s supports local councils in managing the risks from coastal hazards, such as coastal erosion, restoring degraded coastal habitats, and improving the health of NSW estuaries, wetlands and littoral rainforests.

“Projects range from dune protection, wetland rehabilitation, erosion reduction in estuaries, beach access management and monitoring of the coastal and estuarine environment as part of the NSW Government’s commitment towards management of the NSW coastline,” Mr Ward concluded.