Green Corridors program

A Government priority action identified in the NSW 2021 Plan, the Green Corridors program protects strategic areas of high conservation value vegetation and ensures more green spaces across Sydney and NSW. The program is being implemented with $40 million of funding over four years (2011-12 to 2014-15). The project is funded through the NSW Environmental Trust.

The program comprises of four projects:

• The Great Eastern Ranges Initiative works with over 120 organisations to build a conservation corridor on a continental scale from the Grampians in Victoria to far north Queensland along the Great Dividing Range and Eastern Escarpment. It has been the catalyst for building many linkages between existing natural reserves and isolated remnants of bushland on public and private land, and has secured habitat for the State’s endangered wildlife. The project is receiving $4.4 million up to 2014-15 to expand the reach of the corridor and respond to the increasing demand from other groups to become involved.
• The Green Corridor Reserves project acquires strategic additions to the NSW reserve system by purchasing lands from willing landowners throughout NSW. Lands acquired will help protect key parts of green corridors, provide better linkages between existing reserves and consolidate existing reserves, hence facilitating better reserve management by improving their connectivity. Twelve million dollars is allocated to this project up to 2014-15.
• The Growth Centres Biodiversity Offset program permanently protects some of the best remaining bushland in western Sydney. It acquires land for new reserves and funds agreements with landowners to permanently conserve their land. The program is funded by the Government along with developer contributions from within the Western Sydney Growth Centres. It is expected to obtain $13.5 million up to 2014-15, subject to annual amendments reflecting development rates in the growth centres.
• The Linking Landscapes through Local Action project works with stakeholders in the Sydney Basin to identify green corridors and to secure better land conservation management within the corridors. The project is also developing spatial information to allow public agencies to track lands which are protected through secure conservation mechanisms in NSW, including through this project. The project is receiving $10.1 million of funding up to 2014-15.