Taribelang Aboriginal Corporation will help protect the white-throated snapping turtle as part of a program that supports the recovery of threatened species in communities impacted by 2022 flood events.
The Federal and Queensland Governments have jointly funded the projects, under the $38.9 million Environmental Recovery Program, which is a cost-shared program under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, (DRFA) focused on the recovery of waterways and biodiversity in communities.
Aboriginal Corporations, local governments, land-care, environmental conservation and catchment care groups received a share of more than $1.6 million to improve resilience and accelerate waterways’ recovery.
Severe flooding events that affected south east Queensland communities between January and March 2022 caused significant damage to waterways.
These are home to some of the state’s most vulnerable animal species including the lungfish, white-throated snapping turtle, Mary River turtle and the Mary River cod.
Through the program the Taribelang Aboriginal Corporation will deliver a multi-faceted nest management strategy for the white-throated snapping turtle which is a critically endangered species endemic to the Burnett, Fitzroy and Mary River catchments of Queensland.
It has significant ecological and cultural value (key species for local Taribelang-Bunda people).
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt said recovery from such significant floods was a long-term commitment.
“Environmental recovery from the 2022 floods is a key priority for both Governments,” Minister Watt said.
“We’re proud to partner with the Queensland Government to support local landcare and catchment groups, councils and Aboriginal Corporations to lead these crucial conservation and recovery projects where they are needed most.”
Queensland Minister for the Environment Leanne Linard said the severe flooding events of early 2022 caused widespread destruction to Queensland’s waterways including the Mary, Burnett and Bremer rivers, which are home to some of our most iconic and threatened aquatic species.
“This funding will support locally-led projects to help us understand the ongoing impacts of the floods on these species, while carrying out recovery efforts to support our unique biodiversity well into the future,” Minister Linard said.
For information on these projects please visit Environmental Recovery Grants or the Queensland Reconstruction Authority’s website at www.qra.qld.gov.au
