Holbrook farmer John Keogh wouldn’t otherwise have the manpower to achieve his conservation goals, if not for the newest Green Army team.
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Five young people from across the region have joined the Holbrook Landcare’s bushlinks biodiversity project, funded by the federal government.
They visited Mr Keogh’s 1000-acre property on Jingellic Road to plant native seedlings on Thursday.
“We know we’ve got some sugar gliders and the really integral part of planting this is we’re linking conservation areas,” he said.
“What we’re wanting to do then is encourage the neighbour, once he can see it’s worthwhile, to take it on.
“That will link our corridor into the Ten Mile Creek and up into the national park.”
We know we’ve got some sugar gliders and the really integral part of planting this is we’re linking conservation areas.
- Holbrook's John Keogh
For Charles Sturt University environmental science student Tom Gascoyne, spending four days a week on the land was a welcome step away from a classroom.
“It extends on the course I’m doing,” he said.
“I think it will make a fair impact, a lot of it couldn’t get done on their own – there’s been big areas we’ve been working on.
Farrer MP Sussan Ley said the initiative, created in partnership with Greater Hume Council, Murray Local Land Services and others, offered 20 to 26 weeks of paid work.
“It’s first and foremost an environmental project, but I see the youth development aspect as equally important,” she said.
“They can do two units of a certificate in conservation and land management and can go on and do further units in a second rotation.
“It’s a stepping stone.”
Holbrook Landcare chief executive Dale Stringer said the army had huge potential.
“The Billabong Creek frontage at Culcairn and police paddocks reserve at Tumbarumba are examples of where these guys will be value adding,” he said.
“It helps out with small projects that require hands-on work to do, and also some of the public areas with great environmental value bit are hard to access.”
The preservation works at Billabong Creek, which will allow public access including for fishing to return, are among projects outside of Greater Hume Council resources.
Engineering director Greg Blackie said the project would pick up opportunities within the shire.
“It’s beyond the cope of council, we wouldn’t be able to do that otherwise,” he said.
The program is open to school leavers, gap year students, graduates and job-seekers.
