General News
DOWERIN RECYCLING CENTRE OFFICIAL OPENING
Member for the Agricultural Region Mia Davies officially opened the Dowerin Recycling Centre on Tuesday, 19th April 2011.
Joining representatives from the Dowerin Shire and surrounding towns, volunteers, school children and community members at the Centre Mia she said congratulated those involved for their foresight in working toward reducing landfill in the Shire.
“The town has been proactive in promoting recycling for some time and this is the next step of their journey in minimising waste going to landfill,” Ms Davies said.
“And with a nod to the fact children are tomorrow’s leaders and will inherit the world, there’s a strong connection to the Dowerin District High School with any funds generated being donated back to the School’s P&C.”
Ms Davies noted that, like so many things in the country, the Centre is manned by an enthusiastic group of volunteers who sort and bundle the recyclables.
“Volunteers man the centre, sort and bundle, and in some cases have received specialised training in breaking down e-waste like old computers,” she said.
“We know that every 10 tonnes of recyclable materials recovered is equivalent to taking four cars off the road permanently and each aluminium can recycled saves enough electricity to run a TV for three hours.
“Everyone can play a part in reducing waste to landfill and Dowerin is taking a leading role in promoting the importance of recycling.”
Left to right: Adrian Price (Shire of Dowerin), Hon Mia Davies MLC, Rev Norma Metcalf , Cr Dale Metcalf (Shire President), Hon Robin Chapple MLC, Steven Geerdink (Shire of Dowerin) with Dowerin District High School students
 
Agricultural Resource Management Survey results now available on Caring for our Country website
Do you want to gain a better picture about how Australian farmers are improving their biodiversity management practices?
If so, check out some of the results available from the Agricultural Resource Management Survey at: http://www.nrm.gov.au/about/caring/sustainable.html#reporting
Run by Australian Bureau of Statistics for Caring for our Country, the survey is the first of what will become a biennial report on what farmers are doing to conserve and protect biodiversity on their land and to manage their soils.
The surveys will track trends and changes in the national, state and regional land management practices using data from up to 33 000 farms.
The first survey, compiled in 2007-08, provides the baseline for future assessments. The results now available on the Caring for our Country website include information on the extent and management of native vegetation, wetlands, creeks and riverbanks and covenants for protection purposes. More information on soil management practices will be added shortly.
The survey results will help Caring for our Country grant applicants, industry bodies and policy makers build a better picture about where to focus their efforts to improve management practices.
Government delivers boost for environment and heritage
Farmers and local land managers will receive ongoing support for vital work to protect endangered ecological communities in the 2011-12 Budget. The Budget will also deliver on election commitments to plan for new dedicated wildlife corridors and help local communities preserve their heritage.
Environment Minister Tony Burke said the Gillard Government would invest $84.2 million over four years in a new round of its successful Environmental Stewardship Program, through Caring for our Country.
The Environmental Stewardship Program gives landholders access to 15-year grants so they can take long-term action on their land to reduce grazing intensity, control weeds and feral animals and protect key species and ecological communities.
The Budget also sets aside $10 million over three years to deliver on a 2010 Election commitment to develop a National Wildlife Corridors Plan to link national parks and reserves with private land, providing a framework for the protection of the natural environment and biodiversity.
The Government is working with regional natural resource management groups to plan the wildlife corridors, which will consider climate change impacts and identify linkages in the landscape to allow the migration of species and protect natural storages of carbon in native ecosystems.
A further $4 million over four years will be invested to control the crazy ants which threaten the iconic red crab and rainforest habitat unique ecosystems of Christmas Island.
These initiatives are also part of the Gillard Government's Caring for our Country program which has committed $2 billion over five years to 2012-13 in helping communities, farmers and other natural resource managers protect Australia's environment.
The Budget invests an additional $8 million over two years to help communities manage and conserve important heritage places, including those affected by natural disasters.
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