The Bellinger River’s George’s Snapping Turtle population is set to benefit from $210,000 in funding for thanks to the NSW Nationals in the federal government’s Threatened Species Strategy Action Plan.
Conservation and restoration projects across Australia have been allocated a share of $12 million in funding through the $100 million Environment Restoration Fund.
The successful projects span all states and territories and will deliver practical action on the ground to protect more than 60 priority threatened species.
The community-led projects include actions to restore and create important habitat, captive breeding programs to boost populations as well as new feral cat and fox management initiatives to reduce pressures from invasive predators.
Federal Nationals Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan has welcomed to announcement and applauded the recognition for such an important species to the region.
“I had the pleasure of meeting with Gerry McGilvray, Project officer with Saving our Species back in March last year, and personally witness these special creatures in the Bellinger river,” Mr Conaghan said.
“It’s wonderful to see this funding go toward meaningful action in their protection, including weed control, revegetation and ecological monitoring of their environment. In addition, the project will encompass Aboriginal cultural and general community engagement, as it should. This is a much-loved species in our region.”
