Joint Media Release

The Hon Greg Hunt MP

Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage

Bob Baldwin MP

Federal Member for Paterson

Forster’s Green Army

Forster will become home to one of the first Green Army projects to be supported in Australia under the Coalition’s Green Army Plan.

Federal Shadow Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, and Federal Member for Paterson, Bob Baldwin, said that if a Coalition Government were elected, Pipers Creek Walkway would be one of the first sites to benefit.

“The Coalition’s Green Army is a really positive program that will deliver significant training and practical experience in the vital area of environmental management,” said Mr Hunt.

“This includes training in areas such as plant identification, bush regeneration techniques, site recording, project management, seed collection and propagation.”

The plan will deliver:

-          Construction of pedestrian walkway

-          Regeneration of Wallis Lake foreshore

-          Removal of weeds and rubbish to reduce the weed threat to the entire foreshore

-          planting of native seedlings

 “I have listened to my community which has told me how important funding is for these types of projects. I have fought hard and together with my colleague Greg Hunt, I am delighted to be making this announcement,” said Mr Baldwin.

“We want to help our young people in the Paterson electorate improve their environment while gaining valuable employment experience.

“The Coalition’s Green Army would provide a win-win, through enhancing and protecting our local environment, while giving young people the benefits of training and experience.

“Environmental workers would help local youngsters overcome employment barriers and deliver a positive community contribution.

“This is about jobs and training for ten young people, however it is also about creating an environmental benefit that everyone can enjoy,” said Mr Baldwin

The Green Army plan was first unveiled earlier this year.  Under a Coalition Government, the scheme would start in July 2011 with teams of ten young workers deployed on specific projects for six month periods.

Greg Hunt and Bob Baldwin will visit Pipers Creek Walkway, on the corner of Little and Marks Streets, Forster today at 1pm.

Media contacts:            John Deller (Greg Hunt’s Office) on 0400 496 596

Alex Wilson (Bob Baldwin’s Office) 0401 070 317