The Green Army was recently launched at Carss Bush Park watched by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Environment Minister Greg Hunt and MPs for Banks, Barton and Hughes, David Coleman, Nickolas Varvaris and Craig Kelly.

With $525 million committed over four years, the program will encourage practical, grassroots action to support environment and heritage conservation projects across Australia and provide training to 15,000 young people by 2018.

This project will bring the government’s total investment in natural resource management to more than $2 billion over four years.

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

“Participants will receive a Green Army allowance for the duration of their project and will also be supported to obtain Certificate I or II qualifications or nationally endorsed skills set to help them prepare for the workforce or improve their career opportunities.”

Mr Varvaris said the first round of Green Army projects was set to get under way in the coming weeks, with Barton, Banks and Hughes among the first areas to host a project.

“Green Army projects to be rolled out soon in Barton include activities to rehabilitate the upper, mid and lower Georges River,” he said.

Mr Varvaris said the Georges River projects would rehabilitate public land and water riparian zones across the Campbelltown, Liverpool, Fairfield, Bankstown, Hurstville, Kogarah, Rockdale and Sutherland local government areas.

Works would be concentrated on the main river upstream of Chipping Norton Lakes, including the Bunbury Curran and Cabramatta Creek sub-catchments; the Prospect Creek sub-catchment, the eastern side of the Georges River, from Chipping Norton Lakes to the Como Railway Bridge between Oatley and Como; and the lower river, from Sandy Point and Como railway bridge, between Oatley and Como, down river to Botany Bay, at Kyeemagh and Kurnell, and including Woronora River sub-catchment.

Mr Kelly said the Green Army would undertake bush regeneration through weed treatment, natural regeneration and revegetation, and litter and rubbish removal.

“Teams will also participate in track work activities and exclusion fencing to ensure safe public access and to reduce environmental degradation from inappropriate land use,” he said.

Details: environment.gov.au/green-army

Originally published at http://www.theleader.com.au/story/2468205/green-army-called-to-action/