With the Green Army team rapidly approaching the mid-way point of their latest 6 month project, the Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton last week met with the team involved in conserving environmental and heritage assets in the Bourke and Brewarrina area.
“It was a pleasure to meet with the supervisor and participants of the Bourke and Brewarrina Green Army team as well as representatives from Conservation Volunteers Australia and the Local Land Services Western Region,” Mr Coulton said.
“It takes a coordinated approach from a range of people and organisations to make a Green Army project successful and it was great to see this happening firsthand in Bourke.”
The Green Army programme is an environmental programme for young Australians aged 1724 years interested in protecting their local environment. It provides a hands-on, practical, environmental action programme that supports local environmental and conservation projects across Australia.
Mr Coulton said that young people who get involved in the Green Army programme will benefit in numerous aspects of their lives.
“These participants will not only be generating real environment and conservation benefits for our community, but they will be gaining valuable practical training and experience to help them prepare for the workforce or further their training and improve their career opportunities,” Mr Coulton said.
As part of the Bourke and Brewarrina area Project, participants will undertake the following work:
- cultural site identification, recording and maintenance;
- fencing; and
- mentor repatriation works to the heritage cemeteries at Brewarrina and Goodooga.
Cultural heritage survey work will also be carried out at Myandetta prior to cultural burning works with technical advice from Local Fire Brigade and mentoring from Elders.
Vertebrate pest eradication work will be carried out on neighbouring properties within the influence zone of Narran Lake Ramsar site.
Further information about the Green Army Programme and opportunities to join a project can be found online at www.environment.gov.au/green-army.
