Volkswagen has completed its $2.5 million pledge to Australian bushfire relief projects with two $500,000 grants; one to a project for endangered native animals and another toward revegetation works in three states.
Aussie Ark is the recipient of $500,000 toward projects that protect and revive the endangered populations of Spotted Tail Quoll, Squirrel Glider and the long-nosed Potaroo. This is centred on the Curricabark Wildlife Reserve in the New South Wales Northern Tablelands
Bush Heritage receives $500,000 for tree planting and re-vegetation projects at Eurardy Reserve in Western Australia, Tarcutta Hills Reserve (NSW) and Kara Kara Wedderburn Landscapes (Victoria).
Last year, Volkswagen donated $500,000 to the volunteer bush fire brigades of Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia.
In August 2020, $1 million was allocated to Bush Heritage. This sum was used to plant 20,000 native trees and shrubs across 400 hectares at Scottsdale Reserve south of Canberra, with $250,000 contributing to the Eurardy Reserve in Western Australia – part of the national 1 million Trees Project.
The $500,000 announced today for Bush Heritage is in addition to last year's donation.
VGA managing director Michael Bartsch said that the company, which had received a number of meritorious proposals, anticipated ongoing involvement in the "protracted recovery of our country from the Black Summer disaster".
"The work of these agencies is literally endless," Mr Bartsch said. "While the devastation wrought during the Black Summer was unprecedented we must assume that it will be a precedent.
"VGA looks forward to working with our new partners and playing its small part in reviving native flora and fauna."