LNP’s Green Army to benefit Mary River catchment
30th August, 2013
Federal Member for Wide Bay, Warren Truss, and LNP Candidate for Fairfax Ted O'Brien today announced that a Federal Liberal Nationals Government will deliver two Green Army projects to support local efforts to rehabilitate and re-vegetate parts of the Noosa and Mary River catchments.“A Coalition Government will provide funding for 10 people, including a supervisor, for up to 26 weeks for each project,” Mr Truss said.
“The Wide Bay project will be performed at a number of sites across the catchment area including Cooran, Pomona, Cooroy, and Tuchekoi, that will help to improve the biodiversity of the Noosa and Great Sandy Biospheres.”
Mr O'Brien said the Fairfax project would be performed at locations including Noosa National Park and the Mary River Catchment and other locations which have been affected by the severe rainfall and flooding events over the past 3 years.
Both projects will be undertaken by the Noosa & District Landcare Group in cooperation with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, the Burnett Mary Regional Group and the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee.
“The Wide Bay project will help to protect local endangered and threatened species including the Mary River Cod, the Giant Barred Frog and the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly,” Mr Truss said.
“Practical measures will be implemented to address erosion, re-vegetation and rehabilitation. Debris will be removed from fences, weeds will be controlled and tracks and trails will be cleaned up.
“The work will also improve local water quality through environmental works, and participants will be trained in flood reparation and mitigation work, such as planting the right types of native vegetation along water courses to reduce erosion.”
Mr O'Brien said participants would learn new skills which will help them to obtain a Certificate 1 in Conservation and Land Management or a Certificate 1 in Business Administration.
“The Coalition’s Green Army will deliver real environmental outcomes by engaging 17 to 24 year olds. It will build on the success of the former Coalition Government’s popular Green Corps program, by providing more Australians with the opportunity to pursue environmental regeneration as a vocation.
“Practical action through the Coalition’s Green Army will provide people with the training and skills they need which will help to deliver a better environment.”
“I hope that joining the Green Army will become a right-of-passage for young people right across Australia.
“We are all looking forward to working with residents, local environment groups and the community in identifying further projects into the future as the size of the Army grows towards its committed total of 15,000,” he said.
