By KATH GANNAWAY
VICTORIA’S two faunal emblems will benefit from a $3.2 million injection of funds in the 2014-’15 State Budget.
Environment Minister Ryan Smith made the announcement to Parks Victoria representatives and Friends of the Helmeted Honey Eater (FoHH) members at the Yellingbo Reserve on Wednesday.
The funding supports the government’s establishment of an extended conservation area to provide quality, linked, habitat for the Leadbeater’s Possum (Lowland) and the Helmeted Honey Eater, two of the state’s most threatened species.
The establishment of the conservation area, along with establishing a co-ordinating committee to oversee the project, were among recommendations made by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) earlier this year.
Mr Smith said all the recommendations made by VEAC were now not only supported by the government, but fully funded.
The $3.2 million will be spread over four years.
Parks Victoria District Manager Craig Bray said it would fund three additional staff members working on the ground and address issues such as pest plants and animals, fencing and revegetation works.
It’s 25 years this year since FoHH began its campaign to save the Helmeted Honey Eater from extinction.
President Bob Anderson said great advances had been made in that time, but that were was more to do.
Welcoming the announcement, he identified revegetation as an FoHH priority.
“Most of the Crown land between the reserves (under the new conservation area) needs infill planting and so from our point of view that’s a priority in establishing habitat,” he said.
“I think this is a good start and we’re looking forward to seeing it continuing into the future.”
Seymour MP and Liberal candidate for the new seat of Eildon, Cindy McLeish, and the candidate for Monbulk, Mark Verschuur, were along for the announcement with the new Yellingbo Conservation Area cutting across the Eildon and Monbulk seats.
Ms McLeish thanked the community groups and land management committees who had worked over many years to protect and improve the area and said she was looking forward to continuing to work with the groups.
“Through the establishment of the conservation area, Victorians and visitors to Yellingbo are set to see access to the area boosted and a better overall experience enjoyed,” Mr Verschuur said.
The reserve is yet to be named. While not ruling out the recommended State Emblem Reserve, Mr Smith said Yellingbo Conservation Reserve was a strong possibility.
“The thinking is it’s a whole landscape in there that’s not specific to the state emblems (that) we wanted to highlight beyond just having the State Emblem Reserve,” Mr Smith said.
