Restoration of a section of the River Torrens Linear Park will become one of the first Green Army projects to be supported in Australia, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Action Simon Birmingham announced today.
Senator Birmingham and Liberal candidate for Hindmarsh, Jassmine Wood, said that if a Coalition Government is elected, an area of the Torrens just east of Findon Road at Lockleys and Flinders Park will be among the first sites to benefit.
“Under the Coalition’s plans, the Green Army will provide teams of ten young Australians who will work on local community-based environmental projects for six-month periods,” Senator Birmingham said today.
“This is a really positive program that will deliver significant training and practical experience in earthworks, planting and maintenance while improving a popular local walking and cycling path,” Senator Birmingham said.
The $125,000 Green Army project will deliver:
- Works to increase the capacity of the River Torrens to recharge underground aquifers
- Revegetation of an area once irrigated turf but now little more than weeds
“We want to help more young South Australians in our western and coastal suburbs to improve their local environment while gaining valuable employment experience,” Jassmine Wood said today.
“The Coalition’s Green Army will help sites such as the River Torrens Linear Park and our local communities to gain the combined benefits of training, experience and environmental gain.
“I am delighted that we have secured one of the first Green Army program for Adelaide’s western suburbs. This is about jobs and training for ten young people. It is about helping the amenity of the River Torrens trail as well as the area’s biodiversity value.”
Senator Birmingham said the Green Army plan had first been unveiled by Liberal Leader Tony Abbott earlier this year. Under a Coalition Government, the scheme would start in July 2011.