By Paul Hemsley

Peak body Local Government New South Wales (LGNSW) has applauded state government grants worth almost $1 million to nine councils and two regional projects to help rehabilitate and protect endangered plants, ecosystems and native wildlife that live on the sides of the state’s roads.

Around $900,000 has been dedicated to restore often neglected roadside habitats through hands-on measures like weed control and planting that local governments hope will allow them to clear out noxious and pest plants without drawing on scarce council funds.

Roadside vegetation is usually defined as the trees and shrubs that run along roads and highways. However they can also contain rare flora that councils are obliged to protect and maintain under the Commonwealth Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and NSW legislation such as the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

The grants have been provided by the NSW Environmental Trust through the Roadside Vegetation Implementation Project, which is managed by the LGNSW.

The NSW Environmental Trust is an independent statutory body created by the NSW government’s Office of Environment and Heritage that funds organisations to improve the state’s environment.

The joint presidents of the LGNSW, Ray Donald and Keith Rhoades, have welcomed the funding as boost to halting the spread of weeds and preserving native habitat.

"The Roadside Vegetation Implementation Program helps councils implement on ground, practical actions including removing environmental weeds, bush regeneration, direct seeding, protecting endangered species, improving signage of environmentally sensitive areas, and training staff,” Mr Rhoades said.

The types of projects that NSW councils will be working on involve removal of weeds, protecting threatened species of vegetation, preserving river corridors and removal of African Olive.

Two sets councils have banded together and will each receiving funds of $250,000 in two separate regional projects titled the Central West Councils Salinity and Water Quality Alliance Roadside Vegetation Management Implementation Project.The other project is the Linking, Thinking and Acting: Roadside Vegetation in the Murray Region.

Mr Donald said the grants enable smaller councils with limited funding sources to work on roadside vegetation works without redirecting funds from other essential services and infrastructure projects.

"While councils like Wakool Shire have relatively small populations, they often have an extensive network of roads they are responsible for, and this includes managing roadside vegetation vital to the wildlife and biodiversity of the local area,” Mr Donald said.

Mr Rhoades said the regional projects will “regenerate and enhance” around 1.5 million square metres of roadside vegetation across 19 council areas, which will secure “essential wildlife” habitat and “remnant vegetation for the future”.

"The Roadside Vegetation Implementation Program helps councils implement on ground, practical actions including removing environmental weeds, bush regeneration, direct seeding, protecting endangered species, improving signage of environmentally sensitive areas, and training staff,” Mr Rhoades said.

The initial nine councils that will receive these funds for the portion of $400,000 are Wakool Shire Council, Port Stephens Council, Hawkesbury City Council, Kempsey Shire Council, Gosford City Council, Clarence Valley Council, Wyong Council, Maitland City Council and Glen Innes Severn Council.