(1) Has a decision been made with respect to the ongoing funding of urban landcare projects via the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) in the Swan and Canning Catchment Regions of Perth; if not, why not.

(2) Is the Minister aware that a failure to fund urban landcare projects puts at risk the significant gains that have been made to restore Perth's river systems in the last few years; if not, why not.

(3) Is the Minister aware that there are 11 Community Landcare Co-ordinators employed in the Swan and Canning Catchment Regions who may lose their jobs in September 2002 due to the lack of certainty about federal funding; if not, why not.

(4) Is the Minister aware that the work of 17 catchment groups and over 200 other environmental groups, representing many thousands of community volunteers in the Swan and Canning Catchment Regions, are being affected by the failure of the Government to release NHT funds for urban projects; if not, why not.

(5) Is the Government considering making available no more than $50 to $100 million in this interim year, despite a figure of $250 million being put forward in budget papers for NHT funding; if not, why not.

(6) Can the Minister guarantee that funding will be available to enable the continued employment of the 11 Community Landcare Co-ordinators employed in the Swan and Canning Catchment Regions after September 2002, while the Government decides how urban projects will be funded in the future; if not, why not.

(7) Will urban landcare projects suffer a reduction in funding as a result of NHT guidelines that give priority to rural groups and sustainable agriculture, and much less money being available for the NHT than the Government first indicated; if not, why not.

(1) Yes - around 87 full or part time facilitator/coordinator positions have been approved in Western Australia, with total funding of up to $3.2 million, including the 8 positions sought by Western Australia for the Swan metropolitan region.

(2) Facilitator/coordinator positions that target rural and regional areas have been given preference as there are limited resources and alternative opportunities for funding activities in urban areas. Considerable Commonwealth Natural Heritage Trust funding has been invested in the Swan metropolitan region over the years in partnership with the community. I am aware this investment has achieved much. Nevertheless, the Commonwealth should not be seen as the only source of funding for activities that are principally the responsibility of local and state governments, such as the restoration of Perth's river systems.

(3) Many Natural Heritage Trust funded projects terminate in September 2002 and some have been extended to December. Interim arrangements have been put in place to assist the community in the transition from the first to the second phase of the Trust.

(4) Natural Heritage Trust funding will be provided for priority regional activities including those in urban areas. No regional Natural Heritage Trust funding is available until a bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth and Western Australia is signed. Negotiations on the bilateral agreement are currently underway.

(5) The Commonwealth Government's commitment to funding from the Natural Heritage Trust in 2002-03 is $250 million, as announced in the May 2002 Budget. This commitment remains unchanged.

(6) Refer to responses to questions (1) and (4)

(7) The Natural Heritage Trust will fund projects which help achieve its outcomes of biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of natural resources, community capacity building and institutional reform. It is expected that regional plans and investment strategies for the Trust will encompass urban and metropolitan regions. There has been no change to the Commonwealth's $1 billion commitment to the extension of the Natural Heritage Trust.