FEDERAL Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce said eight Green Army projects attracting almost $70,000 in funding are set to be rolled out across the New England Electorate in the coming weeks.

 

Mr Joyce said the Green Army provides opportunities for young Australians aged 17-24 years to gain training and experience in environmental and conservation fields and explore careers in conservation management, while participating in projects that generate real benefits for the Australian environment.

 

Green Army projects to be rolled out soon in the New England Electorate include Developing a bush foods and artefact site at the Oxley Reserve, with $6500 for stage 1 this financial year and stages 2 and 3 of the same project receiving two more grants of $6500 in the 2015-16 financial year. This project is sponsored by Joblink Plus with Campbell Page and Skillset the nominated service provider.

 

Mr Joyce said a grant of $10,000 will go to a riverbank regeneration project on the banks of the Rocky River sponsored by the Jubullum Local Aboriginal Land Council with the Conservation Volunteers Australia as the service provider.

 

The Land Council received a Green Army grant in the first round of funding announcements and work is expected to start on Monday, 23 February.

 

Tamworth Regional Council will benefit from four grants of $10,000, two of which will be delivered this financial year with the two remaining grants issued in the following two financial years.

 

Titled the Peel River Catchment Native Vegetation Project, Mr Joyce said the funding will be used to control and reduce invasive weeds located within the Peel River.

 

With Manpower and Landcare Australia as the service providers for the three year project, activities will include native seed collection, propagation and planting along the Peel River and fencing to prevent stock from entering the Peel River bank areas.

 

“Young people in new England Electorate interested in joining the Green Army will now have the opportunity to be a part of one of these projects and help our community deliver important local conservation outcomes,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“The Green Army has been an incredible success story for both the environment and those involved. All participants have received training and many already have jobs lined up for when their project finishes.”

 

A full list of approved round two projects is available at: www.environment.gov.au/green-army.

 

Applications are also now open for community organisations, environment groups and local councils in New England Electorate to come forward with new projects for Round 3 of the Green Army.

 

“Green Army project activities could involve restoring and protecting native habitat, weeding, revegetation, cleaning up waterways, creeks and rivers, fencing, gully remediation, preventing erosion, protecting and conserving heritage places and values, or monitoring and surveying on Indigenous and non-Indigenous lands,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“We welcome applications for projects that will support practical environment and conservation activities in our region.”

 

Applications for Round 3 Green Army projects are now open until 17 March 2015.

 

Further information, project guidelines, the application form and further information on the Programme is available at: www.environment.gov.au/green-army

 

Young Australians interested in joining the Green Army can apply through the appointed Service Providers for each state and territory. Contact details for Service Providers are available from www.environment.gov.au/land/green-army/service-providers