b'The Great Eastern Mail OCTOBER 21, 2022 11ProtectingEast Gippsland criticallycommunications endangered frogboost approvedfrom predators EDERAL Memberis essential for the regions HE Andrews Labornative fish from the shelteredF for Gippsland Darrencommunication but also the T Government issection of stream. Chester has welcomedvisitor economy and future the confirmation of projectseconomic growth.protecting the criticallyAsh and sediment washedfor round two of the RegionalMr Chester said Gippsland endangered Spotted Treeinto stream channels fromConnectivity Program (RCP). received over $2 million of Frog from non-native fishthe 2019/20 Black SummerMr Chester said it wasfunding for the three projectsLocal MP Darren Chester at Bairnsdale Aerodrome, has welcomed the predators in its north-easternbushfires further impacted aira win for common senseannounced before theconfirmation of three projects in East Gippsland under the Regional Victorian home. and water quality, buried theand regional communitieselection in May. Connectivity Program (RCP).The Labor Governmentcobble banks where Spotteddespite the new GovernmentThese projects were is supporting the removal ofTree Frogs shelter in Victoriantaking five months to re- budgeted and supported theCalulu will improve mobileget this work underway invasive fish from a strategicand NSW, and filled gaps andapprove the projects. local communities and thephone reception in theso communities can section of stream within thecrevices between rocks whereThe projects atprevious government Lindenow horticultural area. benefit from improved Big River catchment, followingthe frogs lay their eggs. Bairnsdale Aerodrome,so this delay is frustrating,The Bairnsdalecommunications sooner.the installation of concreteA Spotted Tree Frog can layNicholson and WoodglenMr Chester said. Aerodrome is used as a barriers to protect Spottedup to 900 eggs in rock crevicesand Calulu would improveA booster will behub during emergenciesPROJECTS INCLUDE:Tree Frog tadpoles. beneath the water or on thetelecommunications forinstalled for the Nicholsonand supports the work ofBairnsdaleAs part of the Icon Speciesbottom of a stream. Tadpolesresidents, emergencycommunity which hasemergency services such asAerodrome - $512,050funding, the Governmentemerge in the stream channelservices and visitors, Mrsuffered with a large mobilethe Australian Defence ForceCalulu andhas provided $36,000 to fundand in stream backwaters,Chester said. black spot while towersand aerial firefighting. Woodglen - $1.149 millionthe project which supportswhile frogs shelter on cobbleImproved connectivityinstalled at Woodglen andNow it is important weNicholson - $884,000ongoing Spotted Tree Frogbanks along the stream.conservation management. Zoos Victoria has also Through our recordestablished a Spotted TreeNew hospital for Bairnsdale, major upgrades at Maffrainvestment in VictoriasFrog captive breeding biodiversity were protectingprogram, with the goalC ONSTRUCTION of ainvestment in rural health all our native wildlifebigto produce frogs forstate-of-the-art newacross the length and and smallincluding thisreintroduction back to theBairnsdale Hospitalbreadth of the state.iconic native frog, saidwild. will commence underWe see health as a higher Minister for the EnvironmentMember for Northerna Liberal and Nationalspriority than the Box Hill to and Climate Action, LilyVictoria, Jaclyn Symes said, Government with a pledgeCheltenham rail line and that DAmbrosio. Were creating a haven totoday of $230 million ifis why we are reallocating all Recreational fishing groupshelp the Spotted Tree Frogselected in November, alongof those funds to fixing our are working with the Spottedtadpoles escape introducedwith significant upgrades tohealth crisis.Tree Frog Recovery Team topredators, supporting theMaffra Hospital. I have been a regular prevent non-native fish frompopulation to surviveandGippsland East Nationalsvisitor to this region for many wiping out populations of thehopefully one day thriveinMP, Tim Bull, said the regionyears and every time I travel frog. the wild. was one of the rural areas inhere I can see the growth Listed as criticallyFunding from thethe state that was growingand understand that our endangered in VictorianGovernment has allowedat a consistent rate andhealth facilities need to keep and Australia-wide, half of13 organisations to workthe major hospital neededpace with that, she said.the known Spotted Treetogether to successfully repairto keep pace with thatMr Bull also announced Frog populations have beena mountain stream barrier topopulation increase. $6.1million for upgrades to lost through non-nativenow reduce the threat of non- Stage one of theclosely with the BRHS Boardto provide our communitythe Maffra Hospital.fish such as trout, carp andnative fish complemented byBairnsdale Regional Healthon this and they have donewith health and medicalI have been working redfin that eating tadpolesfunding to the TaungurungService (BRHS) rebuild willa terrific job with masterservices well into the future. with the Central Gippsland and the lethal fungal diseaseLand and Waters Councilfeature a new and largerplanning and detailedThe new facility willHealth Service (CGHS) since chytridiomycosis. through the BiodiversityEmergency Department,costings. It really is anbe able to be built on thevery early this year on their The fish barrier reduces theCaring for Country fundingall new wards, first classexciting commitment for theexisting site with minimalneeds for the Maffra Hospital ability of these fish to accessand Cadbury. facilities for visitingregion and I cant think of adisruption to current andand was recently provided the streams where the SpottedThe Government hasspecialists and a helipad onmore pressing and importantfuture services, he said. with detailed costings which Tree Frog still occurs. Now theinvested more than $560top of the building, it willneed, he said. Shadow Minister foramounted to $6.1 million, Spotted Tree Frog will havemillion into protectingbe an entirely new hospitalBRHS Board Chair, ChrisHealth, Georgie Crozier, saidwhich we are happy to increased protection throughVictorias biodiversity sincewhen completed. Barry, said the proposedthe Liberals and Nationalsprovide as part of our suite to the removal of predatory non- 2014. I have been workingredevelopment will be ablewere making significantupgrade country hospitals.G IPPSLAND G RAINS TOREStockfeedRural HardwarePet SuppliesElectric Fencing SuppliesElgas Gas DeliveriesAnimal Supplements157 Macleod St, Bairnsdale OPEN HOURS5152 3093 MON - FRI: SATURDAY:Mobile: 0408 587 493 8:00AM - 5:30PM 8:00AM - 12:30PM'