Blue Mountain National Park to receive much needed funding for bushfire recovery

Over $1.1 million under Tranche 2 of the Government's Wildlife and Habitat Program Bushfire Recovery Program will focus on conducting fieldwork surveys to assess the impact of the bushfires on threatened species.

This will conicide with seed collecting and vegetation surveys to help prevent extinction and limit the decline of priority plants.

Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the Government was getting on with delivering its $200 million bushfire recovery package.

"While much of the national focus has understandably been on iconic wildlife, it is important not to forget about all our native species that were affected by the fires," she said.

Western Sydney Senator Marise Payne said the Government was focused on the Blue Mountains National Park's recovery.

"With essential COVID-19 restrictions easing, these expert-led environmental programs represent a surge in on-the-ground recovery actions," she said.

"Delivering this second round of funding is part of the government's ongoing commitment to protecting priority species, informing future fire management strategies and shoring up the long-term resilience of the Park."

In addition, local co-design workshops for the Greater Blue Mountains and World Heritage Area are underway.

Land managers, traditional owners, scientists and other relevant community stakeholders are working together to identify further region-specific activities.

Executive Director of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute Dr John Merson and Professor Belinda Medlyn from Western Sydney University Hawkesbury's Institute for the Environment have attended co-design sessions.

In February, Senator Payne organised a round-table at the Institute for key environmental, government and community stakeholders from the Macquarie electorate, including Minister Ley and Chair of the Wildlife and Threatened Species Bushfire Recovery Panel, Dr Sally Box.

Tranche 1 funding, announced in August, delivered to restore the habitat of the endangered Blue Mountains Water Skink, the important Temperate Highland Peat Swamps which play a role in the filtration of water around bushland, and to protect and conserve nine priority frog species.

For more information: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/bushfire-recovery