A total of $900,000 will be allocated to community groups over three years Funding is administered by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Round two of the Community Rivercare Program is now open and applications are invited from not-for-profit volunteer groups until September 17, 2018. Funding is available to improve habitat for birds, fish and other animals dependent on waterways, improve water quality, and address foreshore erosion in the Swan Canning Catchment. In the first round of funding, 17 community groups were awarded more than $540,000 for projects ranging from one to three years in duration. Grant projects which received funding in round one included: Ellen Brook endangered native fish habitat enhancement; Bannister Creek and Canning River Regional Park boundary enhancement; Bardon Park environmental…

Six Parks and Wildlife Service firefighters from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) have departed to the United States of America to help battle multiple large fires that have been burning across the north-west of the nation. Luke Bentley, Peter Bamess, John Fishwick, Tim Hutton, Leigh Sage and Beverly Gardiner will be part of a 180-strong Australian and New Zealand contingent sent to assist with fire control. The officers are highly skilled and experienced in a variety of incident management roles including planning, logistics and operations. The deployment has been facilitated through an agreement between the US National Multi-Agency Coordination Group and the Australian National Interagency Fire Centre, with resources being managed via the National Resource Sharing Centre and Emergency Management Victoria.