The Mandurah Estuary and Peel Inlet are set to benefit from a state government funding package aimed at restoring and managing regional waterways.
The Peel region will share in $25 million over the next four years, alongside the South-West and Great Southern regions.
Healthy Estuaries WA will be awarded the cash injection as they expand on the previous work started under the Regional Estuaries Initiative and Revitalising Geographe Waterways projects.
The Mandurah Mail has previously reported on the declining health of the rivers in the Peel region.
Previous assessments from the 1990s have revealed, of more than 4000 kilometres of waterways throughout the Swan Coastal Plain, only about 1 per cent is in "near pristine condition".
The $25 million boost is part of a larger investment in critical regional programs across the state, totaling more than $111 million.
The funding package also consists of $2.4 million for the Family and Domestic Violence Therapeutic Women's Refuge Peel to support operations at the refuge over the next four years.
It will also support important regional community programs, including:
- $15 million to extend mitigation efforts to help protect regional communities from the risk of catastrophic bushfires
- $3.2 million for the Regional Men's Health Initiative, ensuring the successful men's wellbeing program can continue to operate in regional and rural communities
- $4.2 million for the Aboriginal Governance and Leadership Development Program, to support Aboriginal business capacity in the regions
- $3 million for the Regional Athlete Support Program, to ensure WA continues to foster talented athletes in regional areas
- $1.5 million for regional financial counselling services
- $1 million for the Better Beginnings program, supporting delivery of family literacy services to regional areas
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Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan said funding for the next four years had been locked in ahead of the upcoming budget.
"This $111 million investment provides security of funding for key regional programs and projects spanning arts, environment, health, sport and more," she said.
Premier Mark McGowan said details on additional regional programs and projects that have secured funding would be released in coming weeks.
"As we look to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, it's important that we get on with delivering the programs and projects that matter to regional West Australians," he said.
"This Royalties for Regions investment will ensure that vital programs can continue to be delivered across regional WA."
