Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development
The Honourable Andrew Fraser

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Queensland’s Green Army to tackle Nambour creek rehabilitation

Ten long-term unemployed people will be recruited in the coming months to improve Nambour’s Petrie Creek catchment thanks to the Bligh Government’s Green Army initiative.

Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development Andrew Fraser said the Petrie Creek Catchment Care Group, based at Nambour, had received $134,000 to recruit Green Army participants to help rehabilitate Petrie Creek.

“The catchment care group will deliver a 16-week work placement program that will not only provide paid employment to the jobseekers, but will also incorporate accredited training and job preparation,” Mr Fraser said.

“This project aims to help Indigenous people, Australian South Sea Islanders and other long-term unemployed people to gain confidence, get paid work and acquire skills that are in high demand.

“It’s just one of many Green Army projects that will be developed statewide over the next three years as part of the Bligh Government’s election commitment of $57 million.

“Green Army funding will provide 2300 jobseekers with paid work on projects that have significant environmental and community benefit and help 700 unemployed people develop specialised skills through green traineeships.”

Petrie Creek Catchment Care Group co-ordinator Cerran Fawns said the 10 people recruited to the Nambour project would extend and maintain the revegetation work that has been done along Petrie Creek for many years.

“They will gain a wide range of skills and knowledge in plant identification, site preparation, planting techniques, seed collection and propagation, chainsaw operation, natural resource management techniques and water quality testing,” Ms Fawns said.

“The scope of the skills participants acquire will also extend to other important job-related areas such as public speaking, interviewing techniques, teamwork and project management.

“Although most of the work will be on revegetation sites in the Nambour area, some work will be undertaken on other sites to create a top of catchment down approach which is a more successful way of achieving improved water quality and biodiversity.”

For further information on the Green Army visit www.greenarmy.qld.gov.au or call
1800 249 215.


Media contacts: Treasurer’s office – 3224 6361 or 3224 5982
                              Petrie Creek Catchment Care Group – 5476 4777

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