Young Australians from the Liverpool region are working to preserve the health of the Georges River Corridor through the Australian Government’s Green Army programme.
The Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt, and Federal Member for Hughes, Craig Kelly, commended the work of the local youth when they visited the Georges River Riparian Restoration team at Lighthorse Park today.
“The Georges River team is making a real difference to their local area through weed control, planting, vegetation surveying and erosion management,” Mr Hunt said.
“The team is carrying out great work extending native vegetation in Helles Park and Lighthorse Park.”
Federal Member for Hughes, Craig Kelly, said the project would not only enhance the local environment but create a future for young people in the region, providing them with training and skills.
“It’s great to see the hard work of these young locals and the significant contribution they are making to the Liverpool area. They are gaining valuable training and experience while helping their local community and environment,” Mr Kelly said.
“The Green Army is about local people and local projects. It is a key Government commitment with more than $700 million budgeted over four years.”
The Green Army encourages practical action to support local environment and conservation projects across Australia. It provides an exciting opportunity to thousands of young Australians to work on local environment projects, while gaining practical skills and training.
Applications for projects under Round 4 of the Green Army programme are now open.
Local community organisations, Landcare groups, natural resource management organisations, environment groups, Indigenous organisations, councils and others are encouraged to nominate Green Army projects that have a clear focus on conservation of the environment or National or World Heritage places.
Applications for projects close at 2pm AEST (Canberra time) on Wednesday, 16 September 2015.
Further details on the programme are available on the Green Army website www.australia.gov.au/greenarmy.
(ENDS)