THE Federal Government has confirmed the purchase of western Riverina property, Booligal Station, which will be turned into a national park, while its 472 unit shares of general security water licences will be held for the environment.
The Federal Government put close to $1.6m towards the purchase, which has been rumoured for some weeks, and was confirmed today by Parliamentary Secretary for Water, Mike Kelly.
Booligal Station is on the Lachlan River and the Federal Government has provided the money to purchase the 5936-hectare property, which will be run as part of the NSW National Parks system.
Dr Kelly said the purchase would ensure the "long-term conservation of the nationally recognised Booligal Wetlands on the Lachlan River in western NSW".
The water purchase was made as part of the Water for the Future program.
"The station contains more than 2,500 hectares of the Booligal Wetlands - renowned for the large numbers of waterbirds that congregate to breed and forage here during floods," Dr Kelly said.
The station has been purchased through the Rivers Environmental Restoration Program which is funded by the Australian and NSW Governments.
Email a friend