August 15, 2014
The largest environmental movement in Australia’s history is set to get underway in the coming weeks and volunteers renovating the Boolarra Old Mill site will be a part of it.
The Australian Government’s Green Army has been officially launched, with the first round of Gippsland projects being revealed by Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.
Young people in Gippsland will be among the first 17 to 24 year olds to participate in the environmental program, joining forces with local environmental groups to deliver important local conservation projects.
Mr Chester said the Green Army would build on the incredible work already being undertaken by community-based volunteer groups.
“One of the best things about the Green Army is that these vital environmental projects will get access to fit, young workers who can supply extra muscle that is often not readily available,” Mr Chester said.
“These young workers will earn an allowance and gain hands-on, practical skills, training and experience in environmental and conservation fields.
“But ultimately the Green Army is an environmental programme and it will make a real difference through projects like this one by restoring and protecting habitat, weeding, planting, cleaning up creeks and rivers and restoring cultural heritage places.”
Green Army projects to be rolled out soon in Gippsland include:
Boolarra Old Mill site and Forest Rehabilitation: Improving biodiversity, carbon sequestering, excavating tracks and revegetating areas of forest. The project also includes wildlife camera monitoring and data collection, weed control and collecting native seeds to be grown and used in the forest;
Gippsland Plains Rail Trail Stage One: Mapping vegetation, removing weeds and undertaking revegetation work at key locations along the trail between Stratford and Heyfield; and,
East Gippsland Rail Trail Project: Restoring, rehabilitating and re-establishing vegetation and protecting native habitat of several endangered or threatened fauna and flora species along the East Gippsland Rail Trail, between Bairnsdale and Orbost.
The Boolarra Old Mill Site and Forest Revegetation will be led by Boolarra South Landcare Group and VFF Farm Tree.
Green Army will help to develop another kilometre of walking track at The Old Mill Site, lay drainage pipes and build a bridge on this track and surface with crushed rock. There will also be renovations to existing tracks, surface repairs and widening a track to historic artefacts.
Noxious weeds will be removed from the site, forest and Arboretum, new species of native seedlings will be planted and workers will play a role in the existing program monitoring the existence of the long nosed bandicoot, tiger quoll and Strzelecki koala.
Boolarra South Landcare secretary Linder Minter said all these projects would lead to an improved environmental site.
“We are hoping that these tasks will be completed and lead to an improvement in the amenities and also protect the environment,” Mrs Minter said.
“This will allow people to observe the forest without damaging the environment, while it will also encourage the colonisation of more diverse species of plants and animals, which will improve the whole eco system.”
Mr Chester said the Green Army participants would also be supported to obtain Certificate I or II qualifications or a nationally-endorsed skills set to help them prepare for the workforce or improve their career opportunities.
The Green Army was a key Coalition election commitment, and with $525 million budgeted over four years, the Green Army is one of the Government’s major environmental initiatives and will encourage practical, grassroots action to support local environment and heritage conservation projects across Australia, providing training to 15,000 young Australians by 2018.
This investment in the Green Army will bring the Government’s total investment in natural resource management to more than $2 billion over four years.
Young Australians interested in joining the Green Army can apply through the appointed Service Providers for each state and territory. Contact details for Service Providers are available from www.environment.gov.au/green-army
CAPTION: (Back, from left), Judith Edwards, Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester, Michael Schiller, (Front, from left) Alison Craven, Linda Minter and Denise Schiller inspect walking tracks at the Boolarra Old Mill site, which will benefit from the Green Army initiative.
