More than 150 new Green Army projects are set to hit the ground in every state and territory across the country as part of round three of the programme.
The new round three projects bring the total number of projects ready to be delivered over the first three years of the programme to 704.
We’ve significantly exceeded its first year target of 250 Green Army teams with more than 300 projects already rolled out across Australia.
Even more will hit the ground in the coming year as the Green Army builds to 1,500 projects in 2018-19.
The new projects announced today cover a wide variety of environmental priorities, including the protection of our threatened species and the Great Barrier Reef.
Projects will help protect the reef though works in the catchment area, such as revegetating native plant species, removing invasive species, reducing the impact of feral pigs and yellow crazy ants, restoring ecological connectivity to support threatened species and increasing community awareness of practical ways to support the rivers and creeks that flow into the Great Barrier Reef.
Around the country, Green Army participants will be involved in a range of activities including constructing fences to protect native animals from feral cats, revegetating landscapes to create habitats and food for our threatened species, whale survey work, sharing of Indigenous knowledge and culture, protecting national heritage places and cleaning up marine debris along our coasts.
Not only are we going to see more great environmental outcomes, but we’re also going to see young people benefit across Australia.
These latest projects provide more opportunities for young people to gain skills and training as well as hands-on, practical experience to help their future career prospects.
I’ve had the opportunity to meet Green Army teams around the country, and hear from eager young people who are passionate about the environment. They’re doing incredible work and they’re rightly proud of what they’re doing.
I look forward to meeting the next round of Green Army teams as these new projects are rolled out from coast to coast.
A full list of approved round three projects is available at: www.environment.gov.au/green-army.
(ENDS)