TheTerritory Labor Government is today launching the Lhere Mparntwe ManagementStrategy 2019, providing a way for a coordinated approach to maintainingecologically healthy rivers in Alice Springs.
TheStrategy has three main objectives:
- To protect and enhance the natural and culturalvalues of the rivers;
- Encourage locals and visitors to use the riversin culturally and ecologically appropriate ways; and
- Ensure governments, Traditional Owners,business and the community work collaboratively to care for them.
The Todd River is hometo dozens of large, mature red gums. Sadly, a large number of illegally lit grassfires within the Todd River and Charles River in 2017,destroyed many of these trees, some believed to be about 500 years old,and which are also registered Sacred Sites.
Key stakeholders have cometogether to work with Government on how to protect and manage the naturalresources within the Todd River and its immediate catchment, including theCharles River.
The committee identifiedfire management as a key element affecting river health and its forms a majorcomponent of the strategy.
To view the Strategy, goto https://denr.nt.gov.au/programs-and-strategies
Quotesfrom the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, Eva Lawler:
TheTerritorys natural environment is one of our best assets and a huge part ofwhat makes living here so special - thats why this Strategy is so important,its our first and overarching step towards a more effective and collaborativeapproach to the management of the rivers for future generations.
TheTodd River is iconic to Alice Springs and special to the community for manydifferent reasons, and is also home to large, mature river red gums that holdstrong cultural significance to the local Arrernte people.
Thankyou to the Lhere Mparntwe Working Group for their hard work in ensuring we havea comprehensive Strategy to protect an important and iconic part of Central Australiawell into the future.
