Another $10 million will be delivered to drought-affected farmers and land managers to fight feral animals and weeds, with every local council in my electorate eligible to apply for the Communities Combating Pest and Weed Impacts During Drought Program. Applications to fund projects are now open and will close February 5. It will be unsurprising to many readers that feral animals and weeds cost farmers nearly $5 billion a year, with $89 million due to wild dogs and $4 billion due to weeds.
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Last year I announced $926,000 for Bourke Shire Council, which on behalf of six Western Division Shires, invested in co-ordinated baiting, trapping, monitoring and capacity building along with 16 pest animal control and Landcare groups. Furthermore, Narrabri Shire Council successfully received $127,680 to combat biosecurity and pest animal issues in the Pilliga, Gwabegar and Cuttabri districts.
Round 2 info: communitygrants.gov.au
Commemorating WWII
Grants of up to $10,000 are available to community groups and organisations to help conduct commemorative activities to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific Day. The Saluting Their Service (STS) Commemorative Grants program was recently expanded to place a focus on the Second World War and later wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. Victory in the Pacific Day marked the end of World War II - a war that impacted the lives of so many Australians, including those in the Parkes electorate.
We should never forget that nearly one million Australians served in the Second World War. Of these, more than 39,000 died and another 30,000 were taken as prisoners of war. It is so important that future generations of Australians learn about the critical role of our service personnel. I encourage groups in my electorate to consider making an application for a project that commemorates our local Second World War history. Applications at www.communitygrants.gov.au and will close March 31.
- Parkes MP Mark Coulton
