Conservation investment could support 350 local jobs

INVESTMENT in practical conservation and land management could provide jobs for hundreds of young and unskilled workers in western Victoria and thousands across Australia, according to a new report.

The Working With Nature report outlines the diverse economic, social and environmental benefits associated with government investment in practical conservation and land management jobs and outlines opportunities for further investment in hard-hit regional communities.

It is based on an economic recovery proposal supported by more than 100 conservation, farming and land management organisations.

The report identifies 10 priority regions for a $500 million investment that would create 6,690 jobs.

The Surf Coast is one of the areas in the western Victoria regional proposal put together by local delivery partners including Landcare and Natural Resource Management.

A $39 million investment in western Victoria would generate $88 million in economic benefits and see 358 full-time workers employed for up to two years in roles focused on restoring rivers, wetlands and coastal habitats, tackling pest plants and animals, and working with landholders to improve land conditions and protecting natural assets.

“This initiative presents an opportunity to deliver targeted economic recovery support to regional communities while leaving lasting benefits for the environment, tourism, farm businesses and local communities,” National Landcare Network Australia chief executive officer Jim Adams said.

“This would deliver timely, targeted and temporary support for unemployed workers and can be scaled as needed to meet the needs of regional communities, in the context of broader federal and state economic recovery priorities.”

Pew Charitable Trust deputy director Pepe Clark said rcovery from the COVID-19 pandemic would be a slower, long-term process for some communities.

“Youth unemployment remains high in many regional communities, with hundreds of thousands of young people currently out of work.

“Investment in conservation and land management work provides an opportunity to provide timely and targeted support to vulnerable people in hard hit regions, including youth and unskilled workers.”

The report notes that in response to COVID-19, state governments across Australia have announced practical employment creation programs such as Working for Victoria, which has seen Catchment Management Authorities, Parks Victoria and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning create 570 jobs to date.

“The early success of state-funded programs announced in response to the economic impacts of COVID-19, and lessons learnt from previous similar initiatives, provides a strong foundation for further investment as Australia moves into the next phase of its economic recovery,” NRM Regions Australia executive officer Kate Andrews said.

“This investment would build upon existing federal funding announcements such as Environment Minister Sussan Ley’s investment in Australia’s Commonwealth National Parks and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack’s Regional Relief and Recovery Fund.”