$7.5 million Boost to Queensland Northern Basin communities and environment

June 1, 2021

The Coalition Government is continuing to support on the ground projects that protect our precious environmental water and improve fish health in northern Murray-Darling Basin under the Fencing Northern Basin Riverbanks Program.

Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt said the Program will create jobs in Basin communities and improve the health of northern rivers.

“Queensland Murray-Darling Basin communities and the environment are benefitting from $7.5 million in funding from the Australian Government which will be delivered until 2023 to support the full rollout of the Program in Queensland,” Minister Pitt said.

“The Liberal Nationals Government supports practical projects to protect environmental water and improve fish health and habitat in the northern Murray-Darling Basin.”

“That is why we are funding 1000 kilometres of riparian riverbank fencing, 500 kilometres each for both NSW and QLD, to control livestock access to stop degradation of these important sites.” Minister Pitt said.

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management and Member for Maranoa, David Littleproud said the funding empowers local landholders to draw on local solutions that benefit their livelihoods and the environment.

“A pilot of the program has already benefitted local and indigenous communities near St George along the Maranoa and Balonne rivers through the installation of 36 kilometres of riparian fencing and 10 stock watering points,” Minister Littleproud said.

“Good quality fencing is critical to protecting our valuable ecological sites in the northern Basin and improving the habitat for native fish in areas like the catchments for the Condamine-Balonne and Border Rivers.“

The Fencing Northern Riverbank Program is part of a $15 million investment the Australian Government has committed to New South Wales and Queensland to improve water quality, sustain native fish populations and to keep farm animals safe in the Northern Basin.