The Hon Keith Pitt MP, Minister for Resources and Water, and The Hon David Littleproud, Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, Deputy Leader of the Nationals, Media Release, 31 August 2021
Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt today welcomed a commitment from Queensland to get to work reversing delays in rolling out a $7.5 million Australian Government program for fencing to strengthen river health in Queensland Murray–Darling Basin communities including in Maranoa.
Minister Pitt said the Queensland Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water and delivery partner Queensland Southern Landscapes (SQL) agreed to implement measures to prevent further delays on the rollout.
“I am pleased to have an assurance that contracts to deliver 160 kilometres of fencing will be completed by the end of November,” Minister Pitt said.
“In turn, I can assure Maranoa landholders the program will be delivered in full by the unchanged June 2023 deadline.
“The Fencing Northern Riverbank Program is part of a $15 million investment the Australian Government 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.
“The program funds just over 500 kilometres of fencing each in both New South Wales and Queensland to control livestock access to stop degradation of these important sites.
“I am proud of this program because it delivers funding that empowers local landholders to draw on local solutions that benefit their livelihoods and the environment.
The Murray-Darling Communities Investment Package I announced on 4 September 2020 outlined the Government’s refreshed approach to put communities and jobs at the heart of the Basin Plan.
“The package contained 11 actions aimed at helping improve community and river health, build trust, transparency and accountability, and improve implementation of the Basin Plan.
Member for Maranoa and Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said the Australian Government is committed to producing promised outcomes for Basin communities, no excuses.
“Under the Fencing Northern Riverbank Program, more resilient fences will be built by landholders working closely with the program delivery partners Southern Queensland Landscapes (SQL) and the Queensland Government.
“Good quality fencing is critical to protecting our valuable ecological sites and improving the habitat for native fish in areas like the catchments for the Condamine-Balonne and Border Rivers, said Minister Littleproud.
