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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-05-17 Daily Xml
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BIODIVERSITY FUND

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (14:58): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. How many South Australian projects will receive funding under the commonwealth government's Biodiversity Fund?

Mr Pisoni: See if you can answer this one.

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:58): I have answered all the others.

Mr Pisoni: Not like the others.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Unley will behave.

The Hon. P. CAICA: You have a lot to answer for. I thank the honourable member for his question. On Friday 4 May 2012 the commonwealth government announced the successful funding bids for round 1 of the Biodiversity Fund. The Biodiversity Fund is an important component of the commonwealth government's Clean Energy Future plan, the projects that will support and will—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: Beg your pardon?

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: I apologise, Madam Speaker, that was out of order for me to respond or seek clarification. The projects that it will support will increase resilience to climate change, enhance and manage carbon storage, connect landscapes and help to reverse biodiversity decline. The fund will also provide new economic opportunities for farmers, forest growers and land managers, while also reducing carbon pollution. A total of 317 Biodiversity Fund bids were successful across Australia, totalling $271 million. Of these successful bids, 49 were South Australian and will result in a total of around $47 million in funding over the next six years.

South Australia was the second highest of all Australian jurisdictions, only behind New South Wales, in terms of the total value of successful bids. The successful South Australian bids encompass a wide geographic distribution across the state, with a strong regional focus. The bids range in value from around $5.2 million over six years for the Adelaide Mount Lofty Natural Resources Management Board to create resilient landscapes through large-scale replanting and restoration, through to $7,000 for a family trust to enhance and restore existing native vegetation corridors.

In summary, the successful South Australian bids are comprised of: 17 projects across seven natural resources management boards that total $27 million; 24 projects across 21 private organisations that total around $12 million; three projects across three local governments and local government associations that total around $6 million; and five projects across three South Australian government organisations that total $2 million.

Biodiversity Fund projects will help to revegetate, rehabilitate and restore landscapes in South Australia. They will complement existing programs such as our NatureLinks biodiversity corridors and will facilitate preservation of biodiversity in light of the anticipated effects of climate change. The relative success of South Australian organisations in achieving funding in round 1 of the Biodiversity Fund is a reflection of the quality of funding submissions made by these organisations, which in turn reflects the professionalism and dedication of the people involved. I commend all those involved in the development of these bids.

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