The Tweed Byron Bush Futures Project is the 2011 winner in the ‘Local Government Landcare Partnership’ category. The awards were announced at a ceremony in Grafton earlier this month.
Held every two years, the Northern Rivers Landcare Awards recognise the achievements of the dedicated people who have committed their own time to care for our environment and contribute to sustainable production.
The Local Government Land-care Partnership award is for an outstanding local government organisation which is collaborating with its community to preserve and manage its local environment and natural resources.
Tweed and Byron Shire Councils are working together on the joint project to sustainably manage a number of State and regionally significanturban and semi-urban bushland areas within the two shires.
The project received a $1.7m NSW Government Environmental Trust grant in 2009 to implement the three-year project.
“The Bush Futures Project and local Landcare groups are to be congratulated on their collaborative approach to maintaining and restoring our local environment,” Mayor of Tweed, Councillor Kevin Skinner said.
“Council and community working together can achieve great outcomes,” he said.
Bush Futures Project Manager, Tweed Shire Council’s John Turnbull, said bushland in Tweed and Byron Shires was impacted by weeds, clearing, feral animals, grazing, erosion, dumping and other human impacts.
“The Bush Futures Project aims to deliver extensive on-ground works to address threats to bushland integrity and raise awareness of the ways that residents living adjacent to native bushland can manage their land in a sustainable way and reduce adverse impacts on the bushland,” Mr Turnbull said.
“The project also reinforces the role Council has in managing natural areas, particularly those that are directly under its control, such as bushland reserves.”
Mr Turnbull said the award judges were looking for active partnerships between Landcare groups and the Local Government organisation.
“In this case the collaboration between Tweed and Byron Shires and our local Landcare networks,Tweed Landcare Inc and Brunswick Valley Landcare Inc has been recognised,” he said.
The two Landcare Incs have been involved with the Tweed Byron Bush Futures Project since its implementation phase and are represented on the project’s steering committee.
Significant outcomes from the project where the Landcare movement has had considerable input include: the development of a Care Group Procedures Manual to guide volunteers working on public lands for each Shire; and the delivery of numerous workshops and information sessions during the life of the project.
The 2011 winners of the Landcare awards in the region will be nominated for the 2011 New South Wales Landcare Awards (where categories align with State awards) and, if successful, they will represent New South Wales at the national awards.
