Funding boost eases cost of saving endangered wallabies.

Waterfall Springs Wildlife Sanctuary on the NSW Central Coast has been recognised for its contribution to protecting Australian wildlife with the announcement of a $2,300 funding boost from the Australian Government’s Grants for Voluntary Environmental and Heritage Organisations program (GVEHO).

The funding announcement was made on May 1 2008 by Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett.

Mr Garrett said the funding for volunteer groups under the GVEHO program recognised the important and valuable work many groups across the country play in protecting our land, unique species and historic places.

“The focus of this program is on easing the burden of day-to-day running expenses for vital projects that protect the environment by making funds available for administration costs.”

“Conservation councils, local organisations and national conservation organisations, largely
through the dedication of many volunteers, have achieved great outcomes for all Australians in preserving many of our natural icons,” Mr Garrett said.

A non-for-profit organisation, Waterfall Springs conducts managed captive breeding programs for the endangered Brush-tail Rock-wallaby – a partnership conservation initiative to help recover and save this endangered species.

Sanctuary founder and Chairman Lloyd Oldfield welcomed the funding and said that every funding dollar and cash donation was gratefully received by the Sanctuary to help cover the high costs involved in this vital species recovery project.

“We are a privately owned and operated Sanctuary and are completely financially dependent on the generous donations from our corporate and private donors” he said.

“Although on average it costs approximately $4,200 per head to breed, raise and keep a single brush-tail rock-wallaby juvenile, we believe every cent is worth the effort to save this iconic Australian mammal from becoming extinct from our environment”.

He acknowledged the Sanctuary’s small team of dedicated staff and volunteers and said that without the dedication and support from the community, Waterfall Springs would be unable to operate sustainable conservation projects.

“Our people devote so much of their own time into the fight to help save these wallabies. They are the ones that deserve a pat on the back for making such a tremendous contribution” he said.

Member for Dobell Craig Thomson MP congratulated Waterfall Springs on their funding success and said whilst it was only a small contribution to the operating costs of the Sanctuary, it recognised the important and valuable work Waterfall Springs is doing to protecting our unique Australian wildlife.

Contact: Karen O’Mara on 0415 326 762