A successful program at Parramatta City Council has seen a two way benefit to Council and participating trainees in bush and environmental regeneration.
Commencing in 2000, the Trainee Bush Regenerator Program was developed by Council and Ryde TAFE. It involves the casual employment of four students from the Bush Regeneration Certificate course at Ryde. The trainees work on selected bushland sites under the supervision of an accredited bush regenerator.
“The trainees will be working five days per week on three selected bushland sites,” said Council’s Program Manager of Environment Protection, Les Green. “They perform a variety of tasks including weed removal, tree and native grass plantings, bank stabilisation and overland stormwater control measures.”
The program has been so successful that Council has extended the number of workdays for the trainees from three to five days, and an intake of three new trainees for the 2002/2003 year.
“Trainees receive important on the job training which enhances their future employment opportunities in the industry,” Les Green said. “Council benefits as the work performed is at a relatively lower cost compared to contractors. “Furthermore, Council constantly experiences difficulty in securing the services of bushland regenerators due to the specialist nature of the work and the limited number of contractors available. The program is producing additional qualified, experienced regenerators which will gradually overcome the current shortage.”
Council was awarded first place in the Council Category for the Trainee Bush Regenerator Program of the Upper Parramatta River Catchment Trust’s inaugural Environment Awards.
For further information, contact Les Green on (02) 9806 5568.
