The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Minister for the Environment
Mr Ted O’Brien
LNPcandidate for Fairfax
A re-elected Turnbull Government will invest $600,000 for a Fairfax Local Environment Plan. This includes $200,000 under the Improving Your Local Parks and Environment Programme towards a new boardwalk for Descendants of the Australian South Sea Islanders Inc. (DASSI) Indigenous Land, and approximately $400,000 for two new Green Army projects to help rejuvenate local parks and coastal 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 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.
The DASSI Indigenous Land Boardwalk project will deliver $200,000 towards the construction of a timber over-land boardwalk. This new boardwalk will connect indigenous land to the existing heritage trail, south of Maroochy River in Bli Bli.
The first new Green Army project in Bli Bli and Coolum will:
• Renew local waterways including Maroochy River, help protect DASSI Indigenous Land, and build the environmental resilience of Coolum Second Bay Coastline;
• Perform revegetation initiatives in order to protect native species and implement counter erosion measures; and
• Rejuvenate the local environment through the removal of invasive species and planting of native species.
The second new Green Army project in Burnside Park (Maroochy River Catchment) and the Kenilworth reach of the Mary River will:
• Restore environmental features of Burnside Park and the Mary River Catchment, including Mary Valley;
• Re-establish important native species, support water quality initiatives and build habitat for local threatened species; and
• Rejuvenate the local environment through the removal of invasive species and planting of native species.
“All of these projects are so important to maintaining the beautiful natural environments of the Sunshine Coast and hinterland,” Ted O’Brien said.
“And I’m particularly excited about the Bli Bli project to restore access to the parcel of land which holds significant cultural and spiritual connections for the DASSI people.”
“It is so important for our local history that cultural stories such as those belonging to the DASSI not be lost. Opening up this land through the boardwalk is one way we can help ensure that current and future generations, whether they have DASSI heritage or are simply part of the broader Bli Bli community, maintain a connection to this landscape.”
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 these projects,” Minister Hunt said.
“Ted O’Brien is a great local candidate who should be congratulated for advocating so strongly for this local environment plan.”
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 1145 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