Murray CMA
The Murray CMA invests with private and public land managers to achieve changes in land use practices which balance sustainable agriculture with sound environmental practice.
The NSW Murray Catchment is a major contributor to food and fibre production in Australia, with a diverse landscape, from the foothills of the Snowy Mountains to the vast Riverine plains. Effective management of soil health, water quality and biodiversity (native plants and animals) are the key drivers of sound environmental practice, to ensure that production compliments the natural resource base.
To meet this challenge, the NSW Murray CMA invests over $5.8 million in more than 100 projects annually in partnership with private and public land owners and managers.
Established in 2004 and funded by the Australian and NSW Governments, the Murray CMA has invested over $68 million in natural resource management over the past six years, to implement the NSW Murray Catchment Action Plan.
In the period 2004 – 2010, total investment in natural resources has achieved significant results: • 22,200 ha of remnant native vegetation managed for conservation • 5,900 ha of riparian vegetation along creek-lines managed for conservation • 5,350 ha of important vegetation types restored and regenerated • 880 ha of threatened Grassy Box Woodland protected for conservation • 5570 ha of land around streams and 270 km of stream-bank protected from erosion • 3,230 ha of land with gully erosion treated, protecting 129 km of gully banks • 23,000 ha of perennial pastures sown to reduce salinity • 22,000 ha of land managed to reduce wind erosion and improve soil health • 7,720 ha of land managed for soil conservation • 6,400 ha of public lands managed for natural resource management • 170,000 ha of farmland protected in the 2006-07 drought by Stock Containment Areas, enabling ground cover to be maintained on vulnerable land.
