The peak body representing councils in Western Sydney, the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC), and the NSW Government Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure have announced the allocation of up to $1,170,000 in grant funding, offered across nine eligible councils to increase their capacity to engage and collaborate with the Traditional Custodians and local Aboriginal communities.

The grants are to be used by the councils for projects that include traditional fire management, cultural mapping, habitat restoration, Indigenous food security initiatives, waterway health, Aboriginal local language revitalisation and projects that recognise and protect Aboriginal culture and heritage.

“The funds are to be allocated under the closed non-competitive NSW Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan (CPCP) ‘Caring for Country’ council grants program,” said WSROC President, Councillor Brad Bunting.

“The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and WSROC will jointly deliver the program, with WSROC administering the grants.”

The Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan provides biodiversity approvals to enable new housing, jobs, and infrastructure in Western Sydney.

The CPCP will offset impacts to native vegetation from new development by protecting important biodiversity through a network of private and public conservation land across Western Sydney.

“One of the objectives of the CPCP is to improve health of Country, promote Aboriginal culture and knowledge and help enable Aboriginal communities to maintain distinctive cultural, spiritual, physical, and economic relationships with land and waters in Western Sydney and to support economic participation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” said Councillor Bunting.

“Local councils are key delivery partners in the implementation of the CPCP,” said Councillor Bunting.

“I am confident that going forward, the program will increase the participating councils’ capacity to engage and collaborate with the Traditional Custodians and local Aboriginal communities in their areas and deliver meaningful on-ground ‘Caring for Country’ projects in partnership with them.”

Michael Anderson, Community Development Worker First Nations at Liverpool City Council said:

"The ‘Caring for Country’ grants are of an unexpected and positive outcome for First Nations people of the Liverpool local government area.

“Our community supported, driven initiatives assisted by WSROC, and the department are of immense importance.

“It is a rare thing that an entire community of First Nations people have the chance to recommend projects they feel are of enough importance.

“The rollout of initiatives has a relevance now by way of community interest and the future by way of the educational aspects in the local schools who will be invited to see the projects and receive collateral providing real memories and understanding of culture and community that applies to all".

For further information about the ‘Caring for Country’ council grants program, follow the link.