NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam and Shadow Minister for the Environment Michael Richardson today announced the National Parks Association’s (NPA) HarbourKeepers, CoastKeepers and NatureKeepers programs would receive funding increases under a NSW Liberal/Nationals Government. 

"I want to ensure local communities have all the resources they need to care for their local environment, to make positive changes at a local level, and set good environmental examples for future generations," Mr Debnam said.

"A NSW Liberal/Nationals Government will provide an additional $1 million to help local communities help their local environment," he said.

"The additional funds will provide an opportunity for families to think globally and act locally by becoming involved in neighbourhood environmental rehabilitation programs.

The existing NPA HarbourKeepers, CoastKeepers and NatureKeepers programs offer opportunities for communities to participate in regular activities to improve and safeguard their local environment.

The NSW Liberal/Nationals funding boost will provide more money for the three NPA programs to help local volunteers care for their local environment:

HarbourKeepers and CoastKeepers programs allow volunteers to participate in marine surveys, removal of underwater debris, bush regeneration, removal of beach rubbish, removal of aquatic weeds and volunteer training days in Sydney Harbour and beaches and major estuaries along the NSW coast, and;

NatureKeepers volunteers engage in bush regeneration, biodiversity surveys and national park monitoring management. 

"Increased funding will allow the recruitment and deployment of significantly increased numbers of skilled volunteers to assist with the conservation of our natural environment over a four year period.

Shadow Minister for the Environment Michael Richardson said Labor had failed to help local communities care for their environment.

"Currently HarbourKeepers has secured only $100,000 from the State's Environmental Trust to support its HarbourKeepers dives, while NatureKeepers and CoastKeepers do not currently receive any State funding," Mr Richardson said.

"The Labor Government has failed to control noxious weeds in our national parks and failed to control weeds in our waterways," he said.

"The highly invasive Caulerpa taxifolia is present in at least ten estuaries in NSW and because of Labor Government inaction is rapidly spreading.

"The noxious seaweed is now found in Port Hacking, Botany Bay, Lake Conjola, Burrill Lake, Narrawallee Inlet, and Lake Macquarie as well as Pittwater and now Brisbane Water.

"Weeds are one of the biggest threats to biodiversity in NSW, and Labor's failure to control them have led to the degradation of many of our states pristine national parks and waterways.

"Our funding commitment will allow volunteers to undertake a range of important tasks such as weed and rubbish removal, bush regeneration, local biodiversity surveys on land and under water including survey mapping of marine life and weed outbreaks, foreshore and beach restoration and repair of infrastructure such as walking tracks.

"Without a change, the NSW environment will continue to suffer under a Labor Government," Mr Richardson said.

Mr Debnam said it was time to get NSW back in front.