❓ Mr. McGrath asks about the Riverbank Funding Program. The Minister for Environment details the $2 million investment, its benefits to river health and amenity, and the government's commitment to accessibility and enjoyment of the Swan and Canning River systems.
AnsweredQoN 674Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RIVERBANK FUNDING PROGRAM
674. Mr J.E. McGRATH to the
Minister for Environment:
I understand the minister recently announced a range of
riverbank restoration projects that will see work commence over 11 local
government authorities. Could the minister please update the house on the
riverbank funding program and the benefits it will provide to river health and
amenity?
674. Mr J.E. McGRATH to the
Minister for Environment:
I understand the minister recently announced a range of
riverbank restoration projects that will see work commence over 11 local
government authorities. Could the minister please update the house on the
riverbank funding program and the benefits it will provide to river health and
amenity?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for South Perth for the question. A big
focus of this government in the environment portfolio more generally has been
to ensure accessibility to and also enjoyment of our natural environment here
in Western Australia for all people. I have talked on many occasions about our
programs of the Parks for People initiative, which stretches across the state,
and similarly with that program, this riverbank funding program is another way
that this state government seeks to ensure that accessibility and enjoyment of
our magnificent Swan and Canning River systems. The state government, through
the Department of Parks and Wildlife, is this year investing $2 million into
our riverbank program to protect public open spaces and infrastructure, and
also ensure ongoing access into foreshores. This represents a doubling of the
riverbank grants program; as of the 2014–15 financial year, the Liberal–National
government made the investment decision that we would double the riverbank
funding program from $1 million to $2 million every year, going across three
years. This fund will be shared across 11 local governments, as the member for
South Perth mentioned, but of particular interest to him—and I am sure
all members in the chamber—it has included South Perth and funding for
the Mends Street jetty precinct, which was an election commitment of the
Liberal–National government and also an election commitment of the
member for South Perth.
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Collie–Preston!
Mr A.P. JACOB :
With the funding this year, we will see the completion and the full funding of
that election commitment being provided, providing a great gateway at Mends
Street jetty into South Perth and a truly magnificent foreshore access
opportunity.
The riverbank program, as I said, is all about facilitating
access to and enjoyment of our natural environment at the river and also the
fantastic recreational opportunities that having a river such as the Swan and
Canning River system in the middle of our capital city offers to all of us. It
is funded on a matched funding basis, so with that money provided to those 11
local government authorities in this year's part of the program, the
expectation is that they will at a minimum match that investment. In fact,
since 2008, this Liberal–National government has invested more than $11
million into that riverbank funding program, unlocking more than $22 million of
foreshore restoration in urban riverbank areas here in the state. This is again
reflective of this state government's long-term commitment to the
future health of our Swan and Canning River system.
focus of this government in the environment portfolio more generally has been
to ensure accessibility to and also enjoyment of our natural environment here
in Western Australia for all people. I have talked on many occasions about our
programs of the Parks for People initiative, which stretches across the state,
and similarly with that program, this riverbank funding program is another way
that this state government seeks to ensure that accessibility and enjoyment of
our magnificent Swan and Canning River systems. The state government, through
the Department of Parks and Wildlife, is this year investing $2 million into
our riverbank program to protect public open spaces and infrastructure, and
also ensure ongoing access into foreshores. This represents a doubling of the
riverbank grants program; as of the 2014–15 financial year, the Liberal–National
government made the investment decision that we would double the riverbank
funding program from $1 million to $2 million every year, going across three
years. This fund will be shared across 11 local governments, as the member for
South Perth mentioned, but of particular interest to him—and I am sure
all members in the chamber—it has included South Perth and funding for
the Mends Street jetty precinct, which was an election commitment of the
Liberal–National government and also an election commitment of the
member for South Perth.
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Collie–Preston!
Mr A.P. JACOB :
With the funding this year, we will see the completion and the full funding of
that election commitment being provided, providing a great gateway at Mends
Street jetty into South Perth and a truly magnificent foreshore access
opportunity.
The riverbank program, as I said, is all about facilitating
access to and enjoyment of our natural environment at the river and also the
fantastic recreational opportunities that having a river such as the Swan and
Canning River system in the middle of our capital city offers to all of us. It
is funded on a matched funding basis, so with that money provided to those 11
local government authorities in this year's part of the program, the
expectation is that they will at a minimum match that investment. In fact,
since 2008, this Liberal–National government has invested more than $11
million into that riverbank funding program, unlocking more than $22 million of
foreshore restoration in urban riverbank areas here in the state. This is again
reflective of this state government's long-term commitment to the
future health of our Swan and Canning River system.
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