BRISBANE, Queensland, Oct. 29 -- The Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet issued text of the following statement:

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Regional and Rural Development

The Honourable Dale Last

* The Crisafulli Government is delivering $829,000 to Burnett Mary Regional Group to restore Obi Obi Creek in the Mary River catchment. * The funding forms part of the Crisafulli Government's $117.84 million Natural Resource Management Expansion Program. * TheCrisafulli Government is delivering better services through a stronger economyand giving local natural resource management groups the tools they need to enhance regional communities, after a decade of decline under Labor.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering an $829,000 investment to restore Obi Obi Creek in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland to improve water quality, protect threatened native wildlife and support healthier waterways for generations to come.

Delivered in partnership with Burnett Mary Regional Group, the project will restore 4.1 kilometres of Obi Obi Creek through streambank repair and revegetation, with works expected to reduce fine sediment entering the Mary River system by 296 tonnes each year.

The investment will also improve 12 hectares of vital creekside habitat providing greater protection for some of Queensland's threatened species including the Mary River turtle, white-throated snapping turtle and Australian Lungfish.

The funding is part of the Crisafulli Government's election commitment of $117.84 million for the Natural Resource Management Expansion Program, which supports on-ground land, soil, water and biodiversity projects delivered by natural resource management groups.

It'sjust one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is delivering better services through a stronger economy, after a decade of decline under Labor.

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last said the investment would support local experts to protect and enhance Queensland's natural assets.

"Queenslanders want to see their taxpayer dollars delivering real results on the ground, and that's exactly what this $829,000 investment does," Minister Last said.

"Obi Obi Creek is an important waterway within the Mary River catchment that flows directly into the Great Barrier Reef.

"This targeted investment is part of our election commitment to deliver a record $117.84 million through the Natural Resource Management Expansion Program.

"The funding will help restore more than four kilometres of Obi Obi Creek, improving vital habitat for some of Queensland's threatened species and preventing almost 300 tonnes of fine sediment from entering the Mary River system every year.

"This project will utilise local expert knowledge to improve important habitat and help landholders manage the surrounding landscape to enhance the health of Queensland's catchments."

Member for Nicklin Marty Hunt said the Crisafulli Government was supporting local projects to restore Queensland's natural beauty.

"Our landholders are an important part of our local environment in and around the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, and this investment will support them to manage and protect areas alongside Obi Obi Creek," Mr Hunt said.

"We are delivering targeted investment and backing the people who know our local environment best to deliver healthy catchments.

"The Crisafulli Government is delivering better services through a stronger economy for our regions after a decade of decline under the former Labor Government left natural resource management groups high and dry with no meaningful funding."

Burnett Mary Regional Group Chief Executive Officer Tom Espinoza thanked the CrisafulliGovernment for its partnership and funding, contributing to outcomes from the river to the reef.

"This project will restore approximately 4 kilometres of Obi Obi Creek, stopping nearly 300 tonnes of fine sediment from reaching the Great Barrier Reef," Mr Espinoza said.

"Our partnership with landowners and Traditional Owners underpins the entire project, from cultural assessments to active revegetation to threatened species outcomes.

"Restoring Country is something we do together, and Obi Obi Creek will show what that looks like."

ENDS

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Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.