Funding to revive Lower Hunter Dry Rainforest

More than $240,000 has been allocated towards environmental education to revive the Lower Hunter Dry Rainforest. A project, led by the Hunter Region Landcare Network, will deliver tailored tutelage to school students and the wider community, engaging rural and urban landowners alike and creating local champions to embed learning and action within their everyday connections.

Lower Hunter Landcare coordinator Stacey Mail welcomed the outcome. “This $243,220 grant will provide an opportunity to bring real biodiversity back to the Maitland Floodplain with the recreation of this iconic rainforest,” she said.

The Dry Rainforest Revival Lower Hunter project is also expected to build the skills base in the region and offer a chance for the community to engage in environmental action within the Maitland LGA. As it stands, the area is one of the most highly cleared in Australia. So, the grant aims to deliver prospects for the whole of the community to engage in action to restore pockets of the rainforest. And, this restoration of a string of semi-connected patches of the forest will ensure the long-term health of native bird species.

“Each of these education projects plays an important role in broadening and transforming community knowledge and skills,” Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison said, “Inspiring more residents to become environmental stewards will result in improved local environments that can be appreciated and enjoyed well into the future.

The Dry Rainforest Revival Lower Hunter project will benefit the Maitland and Greater Hunter community… and I look forward to the results of this fantastic local venture.” The Hunter Region Landcare Network project is among seven funded with a total of $980,538.

Find more community stories in our Summer edition of Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle Magazine or subscribe here.

Story by Olivia Goeldner