The Georges River Combined Councils’ Committee has launched a Green Army project.
The GRCCC led the way and prepared a successful submission on behalf of member Councils for 12 Green Army projects running over two years. The project will see Green Army teams working across the upper, mid and lower George River catchment area to restore high priority bushland.
Green Army teams will work to rehabilitate public land and waterway riparian zones.
The primary activities will be bush regeneration through weed treatment, natural regeneration and revegetation as well as improving the water quality of the Georges River by cleaning up the waterway through rubbish removal. Other activities will include track work and exclusion fencing to ensure safe public access and to reduce environmental degradation from inappropriate land uses.
Green Army teams will target key sites selected by the GRCCC member Councils as important areas in need of restoration. The project will also provide Green Army participants with the opportunity to work towards the attainment of qualifications in Conservation Land Management.
The GRCCC as the project sponsor will work in partnership with the Service Provider, Conservation Volunteers Australia which is a highly experienced environmental, recruitment and employment organisation.
The GRCCC met with the Prime Minister Mr Tony Abbott, Federal Environment Minister Mr Greg Hunt, and Federal members Nickolas Varvaris, David Coleman and Craig Kelly earlier this month on the lower Georges River for the program launch.
The GRCCC projects were part of the first round of 196 projects to roll out across the country. Each project will operate for six months and be comprised of up to ten 17-24 year old trainees and an experienced team supervisor.
GRCCC chairperson Councillor Naji Peter Najjar (pictured with the Prime Minister) said: “I am excited to announce that the GRCCC has been successful in its application to bring Green Army teams in to restore important bush land in the Georges River catchment, benefiting our member councils and our river”.
The GRCCC is an incorporated association of nine local government councils working in partnership with state and federal government agencies and community representatives within the Georges River catchment. It represents local government in the Georges River catchment of NSW. Member councils include Bankstown City, Campbelltown City, Fairfield City, Hurstville City, Kogarah City, Liverpool City, Rockdale City, Sutherland Shire and Wollondilly Shire councils. The GRCCC is hosted by Hurstville City Council for the period between 2009-2016.
Additional Green Army projects announced to be conducted in the Georges River catchment include: Kennedy Creek (Wollondilly Shire Council), Deepwater Park (Bankstown City Council) and Lime Kiln Bay Wetlands (Hurstville City Council).
For more information on the program please contact info@georgesriver.org.au
