A number of Peel environmental groups and local government projects will share in $7 million of state funding to protect and enhance the environment.
The West Australian government's community stewardship grants were awarded earlier this month to support community efforts and boost local conservation initiatives.
The grants, which are part of an ongoing funding commitment to the State Natural Resource Management (NRM) program, will be allocated to a variety of groups and programs.
The Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Lake Clifton-Herron Landcare Group and Harvey River Restoration Taskforce, sponsored by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, are among 85 projects across the state to receive funding.
The Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale was one of 41 regional projects to be awarded a small community stewardship grant.
The local government received almost $22,000 for their proposal, Conservation and Protection of a Threatened Ecological Community in Serpentine.
The project will enable the long-term preservation of threatened banksia woodland at Serpentine Sports Reserve, which is at risk from Phytophthora dieback and conflicting uses, including use by a pony club.
The funding will be used to fence the vegetation to manage access and impacts, erect dieback awareness signs to increase education and control weeds and feral animals.
The Lake Clifton-Herron Landcare Group, sponsored by the Lake Clifton-Herron Residents Association, received $21,450 to capitalise on their achievements over the last five years with the 3R's for Lake Clifton project.
The funding will be used for maintenance, including corflute removal, track maintenance and weed control as well as re-vegetation to fill in around lakeside areas and a camera monitoring project to determine the prevalence of rabbits in the area.
The Harvey River Restoration Taskforce, sponsored by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, was the only project in the Peel region to receive a large community stewardship grant and one of only 25 throughout regional WA.
The group received more than $101,000 to facilitate action for a more vibrant and revitalised Harvey River catchment.
The funding will be used for targeted on-ground actions including river bank enhancement, streamside re-vegetation, and capacity building events, to help rehabilitate and protect waterway and wetland habitats within the lower Harvey River catchment.
Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the grants would assist local efforts to conserve the state's most valuable environmental assets.
"The McGowan government's state NRM community stewardship grants help support community groups working on the ground on practical projects that conserve and enhance our treasured natural assets, from the Kimberley to the South Coast," she said.
"These groups give so much to protect and enhance our coastal, agricultural, pastoral, urban and bushland environments and our wildlife sanctuaries.
"This funding backs in their work to deliver real improvement to our soils and lands across the state."
Acting Environment Minister Francis Logan said it was vital to protect WA's world-class environments and ensure long-term sustainability.
"The variety of projects supported by the grants reflect the diverse range of environmental challenges being addressed by local groups and volunteers across the state, which will be boosted by this state government initiative," she said.
"These grants will boost the capacity and capability of valued groups and volunteers."
For more information about the community stewardship grants and this year's recipients, visit the NRM website.
