Fiona Martin (Reid, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Lindsay for moving the motion. The protection, preservation and restoration of the natural environment is a significant issue in Reid. It is an issue that I am frequently contacted about by residents who are very young and also residents who are at the end of their lives. They are rightfully concerned about the anthropogenic damage being done to our environment. I want to commend the work of Reid's local volunteers and conservationists who are working to restore and protect our environment. The Morrison government understands how significant their work is on a local level. That is why, as a government, we are providing ongoing support to environment groups in Reid and across Australia through the Communities Environment Program. The program provides each of the 151 electorates across Australia with up to $150,000 to fund grassroots, community led environment projects.

In the electorate of Reid several of these grants have been provided to our local councils. When the federal government funds projects at a local level we see results that reflect the specific needs of the area. The City of Canada Bay Council has received $20,000 for their improving biodiversity in back yards project. Through this funding the council will train local residents in how to monitor and enhance local habitat for native wildlife, conduct community planting workshops and provide landowners with native plants for revegetation. This project will be taking place in Rodd Point and Five Dock and will provide natural habitats for local wildlife to increase the biodiversity of the area.

The City of Canada Bay Council also received $20,000 for a project taking place at Queen Elizabeth Park in Concord. This funding will be used to restore native flora by removing exotic plant species. The new plant life will create purpose-built habitats for native fauna, including our bees. Likewise, Strathfield council has been awarded a $20,000 grant for their Mason Park bird survey and community engagement program. This project will work with contractors and community members to conduct a bird survey to track the change in migratory shorebird species at Mason Park Wetland. The council will coordinate with BirdLife Australia's Shorebirds 2020 Project, contributing to a national conservation project. Community engagement with local schools, universities and the wider community will strengthen the program's scope and build up the community's pride and commitment to local conservation.

I value the work of our local councils in protecting Reid's native wildlife and natural environment. When the federal government backs projects at a local level we see excellent results. Reid is fortunate to be the home of Sydney Olympic Park, which contains a rich natural environment with over 400 native plant species and three endangered ecological communities. Conservation volunteers are working in collaboration with the Sydney Olympic Park Authority for their frog habitat conservation and rehabilitation project. The project has been granted $18,900 through the Communities Environment Program. The funding will be used to restore the habitat of the endangered green and golden bell frog through bush regeneration activities, including invasive weed removal, native tree planting and habitat construction.

Many of the projects taking place through the Communities Environment Program include an educational element. They engage local students in our area to participate in environmental conservation. I have met with many students in Reid who are passionate about environmental conservation, and I am pleased that through this program students are empowered to protect the environment in real and tangible ways. In Strathfield, Santa Sabina College received $20,000 to create a safe haven for the endangered green and golden bell frogs, as well as for microbats. In Croydon, PLC Sydney students are making use of a $10,000 grant for their native turtle rehabilitation project. They are overseeing a breeding program that will eventually see more native turtles released into the Parramatta River. The school's work is being carried out in partnership with the Parramatta River rejuvenation program and the 1 Million Turtles project.

I am proud to represent a community that is passionate about the preservation and restoration of our natural environment. The Morrison government will continue to provide ongoing support to ensure that local conservation tasks take place in our community.

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