NSW Premier Chris Minns reaffirmed a $50,000 boost for Calga’s Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary during a visit to the Central Coast recently.
The government pledged the money prior to this year’s State election in support of the sanctuary’s work to rehabilitate rescued wildlife.
The money will go towards additional fencing, work and equipment to better protect animals on site and accelerate recovery of degraded areas.
The proposed program of work at the Sanctuary has been guided by the advice of ecologists, horticulturists, and the NSW Local Land Services (Greater Sydney) team.
The Calga Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 2005 in co-operation with private landowner Tassin Barnard and protects almost 69ha of private natural land.
It is a natural fenced environment where Australian animals move freely and visitors can walk among the flora and fauna.
The sanctuary works co-operatively with registered regional species management programs, licensed wildlife rescuers and government agencies.
Minns met with the team to learn more about the sanctuary and how the government’s support could help.
“The work that Calga Wildlife Walkabout Sanctuary does to provide safe, lifelong care for rescued wildlife is irreplaceable,” he said.
“This sanctuary provides a safe home for those rescued animas that cannot be re-released and has breeding and rehabilitation programs for endangered species for future release.
“Those native animals that are so linked to our national identity – koalas, bilbies, Tasmanian devils, wallabies – they all have a home here, and the sanctuary itself is a well-loved Central Coast landmark.”
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch, who accompanied Minns on the visit, said the investment would ensure that the facility could expand its capacity and improve its habitat.
“Ultimately, we would love to see the koalas roaming free within the 32ha of the park,” she said.
“This is just the start of creating a sanctuary that will continue to provide education, conservation and protection of our native animals right here on the Central Coast.”
Source:
NSW Government