Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton, was delighted to attend the launch of the Mid-Lachlan Lakes, Woodlands and Cultural Heritage Restoration Green Army project in Condobolin last week.
The launch forms part of the first round of inaugural Green Army projects with the team in Condobolin commencing on-ground works in May 2015.
Mr Coulton is a keen supporter of Green Army which is first and foremost an environmental programme that aims to support practical, environment and heritage conservation projects across urban, regional and remote Australia.
“During the next six months, the Condobolin community will see first-hand the benefits and improvements made to their local environment through activities undertaken by the Green Army,” Mr Coulton said.
There are currently nine participants working in the Green Army team at the Murie Reserve just outside of Condobolin. The team is led by supervisor Brian Clemson and the projects are sponsored by Condobolin and Districts Landcare.
Skillset, together with Campbell Page, are the service providers for the project which involves a collaboration of seven regional partners including Aboriginal groups, government agencies, not-for-profits, and the broader community in activities to restore habitat and improve biodiversity in the Condobolin area to conserve regionally significant species.
Mr Coulton believes that the Green Army will make a real difference to the environment and local communities through projects like this one.
“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
The Green Army is a key Government commitment with more than $700 million budgeted over four years.
The Programme will encourage practical action to support local environment and conservation projects across Australia, providing training to thousands of young Australians by 2018.
This investment in the Green Army will bring the Government’s total investment in natural resource management to more than $2 billion over four years.
Further opportunities to join a Green Army project can be found online at www.environment.gov.au/green-army.