Cripps: Record Investment in River Improvement Trusts (Australia)

Queensland’s rivers will receive a boost, with Natural Resources and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps set to announce a $300,000 grant to the River Improvement Trusts (RIT) Annual Works Program at their Annual Dinner in Airlie Beach today.

This announcement comes less than a month after Minister Cripps announced $479,000 in special one-off grants to repair cyclone damaged rivers in Far North Queensland.

“I am pleased to announce the Newman Government has contributed a record $779,000 into river bank repair and rehabilitation already in 2013-14,” Mr Cripps said.

“This demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring our environmentally significant waterways get the attention they deserve so we can mitigate potential damage from future flooding events.”

“The work carried out by the trusts help to significantly boost sustainable agriculture in local areas by improving the quality of our waterways and access for local landholders,” he said.

“The recent $479,000 in funding was distributed across three Wet Tropics River Improvement Trusts: Cairns, Cassowary Coast and Herbert River.”

Chair of the State Council of River Trusts Mrs Pat Botto AM welcomed the boosted contribution by DNRM and said the funds go a long way to delivering the important works by the Trusts.

“There are 11 river improvement trusts across Queensland that work to protect and improve rivers, repair and prevent damage to rivers and prevent or mitigate flooding of land by riverine flood,” Mrs Botto said.

“River improvement trusts play an important role in planning, designing, financing and undertaking work for the benefit of their local communities.”

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Press Release, October 11, 2013