A re-elected Turnbull Government will invest $1 million in Cooks River Recovery (Stage 1) under the Improving Your Local Parks and Environment Programme.
It will also deliver approximately $200,000 towards a new Green Army project in the electorate of Barton to support river recovery and wetland restoration efforts.
The investment is part of the Coalition’s policy to support our local communities and environments by investing in the parks, nature reserves, coastal and river area.
The Green Army provides opportunities for young Australians aged 17-24 years to gain training and experience which will assist them in the future to find jobs, while generating real benefits for the local environment.
Stage 1 of the plan includes:
• Water Sensitive Urban Design and Recreation Node – HJ Mahoney Reserve: $364,550
• New Shade Tree Planting – HJ Mahoney Reserve: $15,000
• Removal of lower branches on vegetation – Steel Park: $9,600
• New plantings of groundcover and grasses – Steel Park: $75,000
• Water Sensitive Urban Design – stormwater works for Illawarra Road and Thornley Street: $293,400
• Bank stabilisation and riparian corridor protection and enhancement – Waterworth Park: $250,000
The Green Army project will:
• Restore the Northern Wetland Corridor along Cooks River;
• Control and remove noxious weeds, as well as enhance endangered ecological communities; and
• Improve habitat for threatened species and the resilience of estuarial habitat areas.
“These projects are a significant step in restoring Cooks River, which is a critical urban waterway in Sydney's inner south-west” Mr Varvaris said.
“The Cooks River catchment has had a history of neglect since the European arrival. The river has been diverted, dredged, and degraded to a state that it's almost hard for anyone to believe that the Gadigal people knew this river as the River of Goolay'yari (meaning 'pelicans’).”
“It is my vision to restore the natural beauty of this important river through much needed restoration projects. Steel Park where some of the restoration effort will be focussed, incidentally had its own river patrol crew up until 1930s to assist people swimming in the Cooks River.”
“Returning the river and its surrounds to the glorious healthy state is exactly what the Green Army initiative aims to deliver.”
The Improving Your Local Parks and Environment Programme will support local councils, community groups, environment groups and others to undertake revitalisation, maintenance, management and improvement works at local parks, nature reserves, rivers, coastal areas and community facilities, and build awareness to reduce littering and marine debris.
“We will work with local government, local residents and community groups in the final design of the project,” Minister Hunt said.
“Nick Varvaris is a great local member who should be congratulated for advocating so strongly for Cooks River Recovery (Stage 1) and this new Green Army project.”
Local parks and green spaces make our communities more liveable, healthy and sustainable.
The Coalition has a strong suite of practical environment policies that improve local environments and deliver tangible results.
The Green Army has been a huge success with 1,145 projects announced nationally and more than 700 projects already rolled out in urban, rural and remote areas.
We are also planting 20 million trees to green our communities and provide habitat for threatened species.
For more information on the Coalition’s Policy to Support Your Local Parks and Environment visit: https://www.liberal.org.au/coalitions-policy-support-your-local-parks-and-environment
To find out more about the Green Army visit: www.australia.gov.au/greenarmy