News

Collie schools working to enhance habitats

Tags:

Five schools in the Collie region have undertaken Junior Landcare projects involving hundreds of students as part of the South32 Junior Landcare Enhancing Habitat Grants.

Launched last year, the grants program provided grants of up to $5,000 to assist 12 schools in Western Australia and New South Wales to enhance and restore habitats within their school
grounds and local communities.

In the Collie region, Amaroo Primary, Allanson Primary, St Brigid’s, Fairview Primary and Wilson Park Primary have all kicked off projects including bush regeneration, bush tucker gardens, and a
community nursery.

Dino Otranto, Vice President – Operations at South32 Worsley Alumina, is delighted with the results so far.

“We understand the importance of managing our natural environment with care through conservation and rehabilitation, so it is available for future generations to come,” Mr Otranto said.

“South32 Junior Landcare is part of our Celebrate Green community investment program. We encourage students to embrace and learn about ways they can protect and enhance the natural
environment and ecosystem in their local areas.”

All projects will be completed by June of this year and the second year of South32 Junior Landcare Enhancing Habitat Grants will launch in March.

A summary of progress to date from Collie based schools is outlined below:

Allanson Primary

60 students have been involved in the schools ‘Allanson Reserve’ project which included installing a pathway, designing and constructing nest boxes to revitalise a piece of bushland beside the school.

Amaroo Primary

65 students from Amaroo Primary school have enjoyed the hands on experience of creating a bush tucker garden, digging holes and planting trees. The project has had a positive impact on the students’ environmental awareness and knowledge about native plant and insect species. The school will be installing grass trees in late Autumn 2018.

Fairview Primary

25 students are looking forward to developing their outdoor classroom using recycled materials to create break out spaces amongst the native plants. Year 5 and 6 students are working with Year 1 and 2 students in the design and development so hopefully the younger students will get to see the native garden area planted out and established before they finish primary school. Once the late autumn rains come, students will be planting according to the detailed design they have created.

St. Brigid’s School

St Brigid’s School has successfully created a kitchen garden with produce being shared with the canteen and amongst school families. The project has combined well with the school’s Reduce, Reuse and Recycle program where they have created compost and worm farms. The longer term Landcare Junior Project at St Brigid’s will centre around rehabilitation of their school grounds using native plants as well as planting of native seedlings at the Barbara Smith Playground in North Collie.

Wilson Park Primary

Wilson Park Primary school is running a project called Boodja Kaadjininy, creating an educational zone with the influence of traditional Aboriginal culture. 120 students are involved in the project, planting a native garden and engaging with the local Men’s Group to assist with the construction of nest boxes.