Green Army gears up to go again already
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THREE weeks’ rest. It’s all that some in the Green Army get.
On Thursday, six months of clearing bush and doing fencing work along the High Country Rail Trail will come to an end.
But funding has already become available for the next project involving major revegetation works on the Border from March 30.
Conservation Volunteers Australia regional manager Iain Wilson said three of the federal government-funded six-month projects had been approved.
“That first one will be around the Felltimber catchment and this will involve a lot of planting, much of that on McFarland’s Hill,” Mr Wilson said.
“Out of all the work that CVA does, planting is always one of the most popular activities because people can see a result now and for the years ahead.
“There’s also some mountain bike trail construction that we’ll do and a little bit of fence repair.”
Mr Wilson said that would be followed by work on Huon Hill and finishing remaining sections of the West Wodonga track.
By then it is hoped to have some boardwalk designs approved, including for parts of Gateway Island.
Mr Wilson said Green Army had certainly sped-up work that might have otherwise got done a lot more slowly.
“It ticks a lot of boxes in engaging the 17 to 24-year-old age group in the area,” he said.
“It’s also giving a real opportunity for recent graduates out of conservation and land management courses to get some real practical experience.
“It’s certainly one of this current government’s better projects.”
Mr Wilson said recruiting for the upcoming projects was being done via the Green Army website at environment.gov.au/land/green-army and the Conservation Volunteers Australia website at conservationvolunteers.com.au.
The federal government has allocated $525 million for the program over four years from July last year, supporting 4150 projects.
Mr Wilson said the rail project work focused on several areas, including Ebden, Bonegilla, Bandiana and Albury-Wodonga.
“We did a lot of weeding ... plus a lot of brush cutting, mowing and bushfire fuel reduction work,” he said.
Farrer MP Sussan Ley urged people to sign up for upcoming projects.
“This can cover just about any environmental project you could imagine, so I really encourage any local group interested in practical environment and conservation activities to apply before the closing date on March 17,” she said.
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