Kingaroy Shire Council recently took out two prizes in the 2002 Queensland Arbor Day Awards, with wins in the Local Government and Regional categories. Council’s project was deemed the best in southern Queensland, ahead of 13 other entries.
Winners were announced at a special function at Brisbane Forest Park on Arbor Day in October. Judges assessed the commitment to planting trees and managing native vegetation, and the way each group or individual involved the local community in their project. They also looked for a planned approach to the project, a commitment to maintaining the sites, indicators of success and ongoing commitment to their project.
“The awards celebrate achievements by inspiring individuals and groups in our community,” said Julie Olsen, Coordinator of Kingaroy’s Spade and Shade Committee.
The first part of the project involved developing a Remnant Vegetation Management Strategy for the Kingaroy Shire. This enabled priority sites to be identified for the Onground Community Conservation Action that followed.
With funding assistance from the Commonwealth Government’s Natural Heritage Trust (NHT), Council was able to appoint a project coordinator. More than 430 local volunteers planted over 3,500 seedlings and 21, 644 hectares of habitat have been protected under the Land for Wildlife program. Nature conservation workshops have been held and the Kingaroy Bottlebrush Community Nursery has been established.
To ensure works undertaken are monitored and maintained, Council has introduced an environmental levy. Council is currently undertaking a second NHT project which includes a further five Community Revegetation Activities and the implementation of the Significant Environmental Area Signage Program.
The awards are coordinated by the Spade and Shade Committee, a group made up of representatives from Greening Australia Queensland (Inc.), Men of the Trees, the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Brisbane City Council, Queensland Cancer Fund, Queensland Health and Flinders 2002 Queensland Committee.
For further information contact Celeste Lowe, NHT Project Coordinator, on (07) 4162 6244.
