The Palaszczuk Government has today announced four new ranger positions for Fraser Island and the surrounding area as part of the Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger program.
On Fraser Island today, Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch announced Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation RNTB was one of seven organisations in Queensland that would benefit from the Palaszczuk Government’s $8.1 million funding boost for more than 20 Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers.
“Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers contribute greatly to the protection of Queensland’s environment and Indigenous cultural heritage,” Ms Enoch said.
“Here on Butchulla country, Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation RNTB will have four new ranger positions who will protect and preserve cultural sites and country and create opportunities to transfer traditional knowledge.
“The Butchulla rangers will help protect and manage cultural heritage values in Butchulla country,” Ms Enoch said.
“They will also work with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and other groups to rehabilitate land and water systems and restore natural landscapes, implement programs to control weeds and pests and help manage marine conservation and habitats.
“Our Government wants to continue to support the Butchulla people’s desire to manage their country and pass on traditional knowledge to the next generation and I’m pleased we are providing funding to employ new rangers to work on Butchulla Country on both K’gari and the mainland.”
Ms Enoch said the Palaszczuk Government announced funding for extra Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger positions in the 2017-18 State Budget and organisations were invited to apply for funding to secure these positions. Successful applicants were selected by an assessment panel.
“This program allows the Government to partner with Indigenous communities to care for country and provides job and training opportunities,” Ms Enoch said.
“Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers are often traditional owners who are able to draw on their valuable traditional knowledge in their conservation work.
“It is an amazing program and I am pleased our Government is able to fund these extra positions to extend the work in conserving environmental and cultural heritage in Queensland.”
More information is available: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/community/about-rangers