Help spread the word

Local businesses are being encouraged to sponsor a new project aimed at increasing awareness of the unique issues facing local forests and waterways.

Central Murray Environmental Floodplains Group Inc. (CMEFG) is reaching out to businesses and individuals from townships in the central Murray floodplains region from Yarrawonga to Swan Hill, asking for financial assistance to support the initiative. 

The group, which comprises local farmers and community members, want to highlight concerns about the management of the central Murray floodplains, in particular the Gunbower Forest and Guttrum - Benwell State Forest.

Spokesperson Skeeta Verhey said they have been gathering information which they now want to share with the public to improve community education of local issues.

“Our members are passionate about water issues and the environment in our unique part of the country. We understand the need for balanced water and natural resource management to protect our environment on both public and private land. 

“We have been working together to steadily collate information and data on different aspects of environmental watering in our region, and this has provided backing for our concerns about the current management practices of our precious waterways and forests,” he said.

Mr Verhey said they want to raise $5000 to establish a website so the wider public has access to the information the group’s members  have compiled.

“Between us there are different areas of interest, knowledge and skill sets. We wanted a way to collate and organise that information so it can be shared with others, and the world wide web provides that tool.

“Our organisation approached a communication consultant and we have developed a plan to ensure our information gets out into the public arena.

“We are calling on locals to support the project by becoming sponsors, which will enable our website to be set up and monitored for the year. All sponsors will have credit on the site,” Mr Verhey said.

He said any amount would be most welcome to get the project up and running. To find out how you can help email centralmurrayefg@gmail.com or contact Skeeta on 0429 408 708.