Big funding boost for Lake Baroon environment

The environment in the Lake Baroon catchment in the southern part of the Burnett Mary region will be better protected with a $1.8M funding boost.

The AquaGen Water Board last month approved the funds for onground environmental protection works to be undertaken by the Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group.

Chairman of the Burnett Mary Regional Group Russell Stewart congratulated the AquaGen Board on its decision.

“It shows that they are genuinely committed to environmental protection,” he said.

“Lake Baroon is a very important water supply for the rapidly expanding Sunshine Coast, so this is a very good use of money.”

President of AquaGen, Caloundra City Mayor Don Aldous said the Board placed strong priority on managing water quality issues by supporting local catchment care groups, regularly monitoring water quality in the catchment and by purchasing bushland near the dam to protect it from development.

“We have enjoyed a long partnership with the Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group,” he said.

“The group coordinates protection and remedial works in various sections of the catchment and addresses ways to improve water quality.”

Cr Aldous said AquaGen also funded the new Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group offices near Maleny.

“These premises are designed to be a hub for community-based environmental care and there are certainly some very capable community members involved in ensuring the good works continue,” he said.

President of the Catchment Group, Peter Stevens said that the group had matured in recent years.

“We’ve moved on from small scale projects and are now looking to seriously tackle environmental restoration,” he said.

“This approval was the culmination of a years work between our Catchment Group and Aquagen staff and board members.

“It is very exciting, and will provide substantial benefits to water quality,” he said.

The $1.8m will be staged over 10 years and will follow a well documented strategic plan that will see most of the funds spent on private land.

BMRG Water Quality Co-ordinator Graeme Esslemont congratulates Lake Baroon Catchment officer Murray Dunstan (left), Secretary Gillian Pechey and Project Officer Jane MacGibbon

 
 

© 2005-2010 Burnett Mary Regional Group for Natural Resource Management Inc