The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for the Environment
Senator The Hon Sarah Henderson, Senator for Victoria
Eradicating invasive holly from wildlife corridors, restoring habitat for native orchids and helping fire-impacted tawny frogmouths are some of the successful projects to be funded under a $6 million Morrison Government investment to support Victoria's unique Wild Otways environment and coastal communities from Bells Beach to Peterborough.
The $6 million Wild Otways Initiative is being funded through the Morrison Government's $100 million Environment Restoration Fund and managed by the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority.
Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley today announced 23 projects which will see $855,000 support including for coastal environments along the Great Ocean Road, benefitting species including the masked owl, long-nosed potoroos, swamp antechinus, broad-toothed rat and native orchids.
"These are on ground projects that reflect the Morrison Government's commitment to supporting communities and practical environmental action," Minister Ley said.
"As well as hands on conservation measures like tree planting and weed eradication, the projects will foster an ongoing legacy of community involvement and education.
"Geelong College, for example, is using part of its funding to incorporate revegetation and land management into the school curriculum, so teachers and students can restore five hectares of habitat for the EPBC Act-listed Leafy Greenhood Orchid that is found on their Cape Otway campus grounds."
Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson said another of the projects involved helping tawny frogmouth populations return to pre bushfire levels.
"Weed eradication and mass plantings will create a tawny frogmouth corridor in the Wye Gully to improve habitat and enhancing the quality of water discharging into the Wye River," Senator Henderson said.
"The catchment authority will also work with the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation to eradicate holly and advise on future indigenous planting."
A full list of the successful projects can be found here.
