A re-elected Coalition Government will deliver $1.4 million towards a new Local Environment Plan for Cook.
This includes $800,000 to restore Carss Park Channel, $400,000 for various projects in the Sutherland Shire Council area to regenerate local bushlands under the Improving Your Local Parks and Environment Programme, and a $200,000 Green Army project to clean up local waterways and foreshore areas.
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 areas.
The $800,000 investment in the Carss Park Channel Naturalisation project will:
• Continue foreshore habitat improvements to re-naturalise the channel and associated Kogarah Bay foreshore.
• Reintroduce intertidal habitat and improve the amenity of the adjacent parkland.
• Allow design and construction of an environmentally friendly seawall to allow the growth of protected ecological communities of salt marsh and mangroves.
A $400,000 investment in a range of important projects across the Sutherland Shire Council area including:
• Charlotte Breen Reserve Lookout and endangered community restoration ($125,000). Reconstructing an existing lookout to provide an opportunity for visitors to appreciate and enjoy the Kurnell Peninsula and expansive views over Botany Bay, Towra Point Nature Reserve and wetlands, as well as bush regeneration works to protect one of the last areas of the endangered Kurnell Dune Forest.
• Cronulla Peninsula Foreshore Rehabilitation ($35,000) to rehabilitate a narrow strip of foreshore vegetation on the Cronulla Peninsula between Cronulla Point and Bass and Flinders Point to enhance and link the habitat of existing pockets of remnant Coastal Headland Banksia Heath.
• Gwawley Creek, Miranda Watercourse Rehabilitation ($150,000) to improve the riparian condition by stabilising the channel banks, weeding and supplementary planting along Gwawley Creek between Corea Street and Box Road.
• Port Hacking Road Reserve Bush Regeneration Works ($40,000) to protect and enhance habitat for an endangered ecological community in a highly urbanised area, along with the removal of weeds and revegetation using indigenous plants will improve the ecologic and community value of the site.
• Caringbah South Watercourse Rehabilitation ($50,000) to improve the riparian condition and to reduce flooding by stabilising the channel banks, weeding, bush regeneration and supplementary planting.
Further, a new Green Army project worth approximately $200,000 will:
• Support and complement the work of the Carss Park and Sutherland Shire Council Naturalisation projects.
• Help to clean up local waterways and foreshore areas.
• Restore water quality through removal of invasive species and replating of native species.
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.
“As the local Federal Member for Cook, I am pleased to be able to provide important support and commitment to these programmes. The Carss Park Channel Naturalisation project will assist the Georges River Council with the final stage of this project. Carss Park is a highly valued and utilised community asset by all sections of the community. This project has featured innovative, functional design to improve the foreshore habitat and the next stage aims to improve the foreshore walking path, with the construction of a cantilevered deck for people to walk along, keeping the foreshore undisturbed.” Mr Morrison said.
“The five proposed projects in the Sutherland Shire area will include important upgrades and restoration initiatives to the Charlotte Breen Reserve lookout, which will create an impressive community asset, together with the Bush and Watercourse Regeneration initiatives across Miranda, Caringbah and Cronulla, will preserve the local environs. I am pleased a re-elected Coalition Government is making this commitment to provide funding to these projects, as they are important in promoting ecological and community value in the Carss Park and Sutherland Shire areas.” Mr Morrison said.
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 projects,” Minister Hunt said.
“There are significant environmental benefits that these projects will deliver for Cook, as well as the training opportunities for the new Green Army team.”
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: 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