Nine young people from the border region have joined the Green Army to kick off a local Slopes2Summit (S2S) Bushlinks biodiversity project at ‘Yarra Glen’ near Holbrook.

Launching the project today, local MP Sussan Ley said “the ‘Army’ is set to redevelop wildlife tree cover through the Woomargama-Morgan Ridge area, addressing current habitat threats for squirrel gliders, woodland birds and other local wildlife.

“Over coming months we’ll see first-hand the real benefits and improvements that can be made to our local environment through activities undertaken by the Green Army,” Ms Ley said.

“Local participants for Stage One of this S2S project come from towns across the region, including Holbrook, Albury-Wodonga, Thurgoona, Walla Walla and Uranquinty.”

“Not only will our local team generate environment benefits, they will also gain practical training and experience to help prepare for the workforce or further training and to improve career opportunities”, Ms Ley said.

The Coalition Government’s Green Army is a 6-month program for 17-24 year olds to train and work in the environment, and is open to school leavers, gap year students, graduates and job-seekers. Right across Australia, the Green Army is making a real difference to the environment and local communities through projects such as restoring and protecting habitat, weeding, planting, cleaning up creeks and rivers and restoring cultural heritage places.

Community organisations, Landcare groups, environment groups, Indigenous organisations, natural resource management organisations, local councils and others can apply to host a Green Army project.

S2S Bushlinks is a revegetation project managed by Holbrook Landcare Network on behalf of the Slopes2Summit and Great Eastern Ranges Initiative, in partnership with Murray Local Land Services.

Further opportunities and information go to www.australia.gov.au/greenarmy.