Stand for wetlands

THE City of Casey has purchased a large Cannons Creek property to help mark the International Year of Bio-diversity and World Wetlands Day on Tuesday.
The property has been purchased in a bid to conserve a significant part of the local wetland environment and ensure its bio-diversity into the future.
The council plans to retain the property, which is the second largest area of saltmarsh on the Rutherford Inlet, located between Cannons Creek and Warneet, as a conservation reserve.
Mayor Lorraine Wreford said the mangrove-saltmarsh vegetation of Western Port was of regional, national and international significance, so it was vitally important that action was taken to ensure its future conservation.
“The council has purchased this large property to ensure its future protection and we are encouraging the State Government to also consider purchasing further properties in the Rutherford Inlet area, to assist in the conservation of this internationally significant area,” Cr Wreford said.
The council’s environment manager Nicola Ward said a challenge for the local community was how to protect the genetic, species and ecosystem bio-diversity of Casey.
She said residents could help safeguard the variety of fauna and flora in Casey by applying for a Bio-diversity Incentive Scheme grant.
The council can provide funding support for cash incentives for properties with a Trust for Nature Conservation Covenant, grants for fencing remnant vegetation, subsidising land management courses for interested landowners and technical support.
For further information on Bio-diversity Incentive Scheme grants call 9705 5200.