The McGowan Government will provide $7 million over four years from the Healthy Estuaries WA program to improve water quality and restore the values of three south coast estuaries.
Torbay Inlet has been recognised as having significant value to the Great Southern community and the Torbay Catchment Group will receive funding as one of the new partners of the Healthy Estuaries WA program. This partnership will support farmers to take actions to reduce nutrient input to the Torbay Estuary, as a key action identified in the Torbay Restoration Plan.
Managed by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Healthy Estuaries WA will continue partnerships with more than 10 organisations across Western Australia, delivering strategic outcomes, supporting the economic growth of the regions and working to manage the effects of climate change on our waterways.
Funding for the four-year $25 million program will support the restoration and management of estuaries in the Peel, South-West and Great Southern regions.
$7 million of this funding has been allocated to the Great Southern region, which includes an ongoing partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to reduce the nutrient runoff from farms for the Wilson Inlet and Oyster Harbour, while supporting farm productivity.
The Healthy Estuaries WA program will directly employ more than 70 people delivering projects, with the majority living and working in regional areas. Delivery of the program will also support local businesses in the provision of goods and services, including technical services such as soil testing and clay manufacture.
As well as reducing nutrient inputs from priority catchments, Healthy Estuaries WA will use the latest science to monitor and effectively manage waterways, and continue to build collaboration between community, scientists, government and industry.
As stated by Water Minister Dave Kelly:
"I am pleased to welcome another partner, Torbay Catchment Group, to the Healthy Estuaries WA program.
"More than 80 per cent of the Western Australian population lives around our estuaries making them one of our most valuable environmental, economic and recreational assets.
"While there are 166 estuaries in Western Australia, it is the estuaries in the south-west of the State that are the most heavily impacted by housing, agriculture, industry and recreation.
"The future of effective estuarine and catchment management in the south-west will rely heavily on continued community support and effective engagement with estuary stakeholders."
As stated by Albany MLA Peter Watson:
"I think it's very important to reduce the nutrients entering our waterways and I'd like to congratulate the Torbay Catchment Group on the continuous efforts they've made over a long period of time."
