Young people are set to help restore and preserve the unique Port Noarlunga Sand Dunes under a Green Corps program being launched in Adelaide’s south.

The program is to be run by leading community services group, Mission Australia – which operates many services for young people in the region – in partnership with the City of Onkaparinga, Christies Beach High School and the Southern Vocational College.

Mission Australia’s State Manager Mark Herselman said the Green Corps team would work on community and council coastal projects primarily at Port Noarlunga South in the sand dunes and the adjoining Onkaparinga River Estuary.

“Mission Australia is very pleased to be involved in a program of such environmental and cultural importance, which will also of course provide valuable training for local young people,” Mr Herselman said. “We’re also pleased to be working very closely with the local community on the project.”

The ten local participants, aged 17-20, in the 26 week project will work in the dunes, assisting in the closure and redirection of walking tracks, rehabilitation of vegetation, creation of monitoring points. They will also work with Christies Beach High students to propagate plants for the dunes and gain insights into indigenous culture by working on the Yunggullungalla Indigenous Garden.

Expected to begin this month (February 2007), the Port Noarlunga Sand Dune Rehabilitation project will also involve:

• improving walking trails
• constructing boardwalks
• collecting native seed for propagation
• bird surveys in the estuary
• water quality monitoring
• constructing fences to protect habitat, and
• planting native plants to stabilise the sand dunes

An additional minor project at the Moana Sands Conservation Park will improve the environment through natural area restoration techniques.

Green Corps is an Australian Government youth development and environmental training program, administered by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, in consultation with the Department of Environment and Heritage.

It provides young people with the opportunity to volunteer their time and effort to conserve, preserve and restore Australia’s natural environment and cultural heritage.

Participants receive a training allowance, uniforms, safety equipment and nationally accredited training (Certificate 2 in Horticulture, Senior First Aid Certificate) in return for their commitment.

“We’re expecting strong interest from young people wanting to be involved in the project,” Mr Herselman said. “It’s a fantastic way for young people to make a significant contribution to improving the environment and local community while they receive accredited and paid training.”

For more information, please contact:

Mark Herselman, Mission Australia State Manager, (08) 8218 2800 or 0403 183 002 or Chris Rann, Rann Communication, (08) 8211 7771