Full steam ahead

By Ed Merrison
TEN keen, greenfingered young adults have earned a chance to learn land management skills in the iconic surrounds of the Puffing Billy Railway.
The opportunity has been forged by Puffing Billy and the outer east employment service Workbridge as part of a Job Futures/ Green Corps program.
The program was officially launched at the Puffing Billy picnic site in Belgrave on Monday, 24 October by Federal MP for La Trobe Jason Wood.
Mr Wood was joined by Shire of Yarra Ranges mayor David Hodgett and representatives from Workbridge, Puffing Billy and Green Corps.
Also in attendance were the eight male and two female project participants at the start of a 26week program which will supply them with an allowance as well as work experience and training.
Program coordinator Paul McCormack said the project would expose the group to the local community while allowing them to gain experience in land management and conservation.
“Down the track, when they’ve finished the program, they’re more likely to get job opportunities within the local community because people will be able to put a face to the name,” Mr McCormack said.
Although the initiative is supported by organisations such as Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water and the Shire of Cardinia, Mr McCormack highlighted the participants’ central role in delivering results.
“It’s their project and I’m just there to make sure they can work it out for themselves.
“The aim is for these young people to take ownership of this project.
Green Corps is a Commonwealth Government youth development program aimed at giving people aged between 17 and 20 training through participation in environmental and cultural heritage initiatives.
The Puffing Billy project aims to restore the native vegetation beside the railway to its absolute best.
This will entail mapping the major vegetative types and species of the corridor and incorporating the information into an Environmental Management Plan. Other tasks will include improving local streams and platypus habitat, removing weeds to promote native vegetation regrowth, reducing fuel loads for fire prevention and providing improved facilities at the viewing area of the trestle bridge.
Anybody wishing to run a Green Corps project in the Dandenong Ranges can contact Workbridge CEO Bronwyn Gibbs on 9764 1274 or go to www.workbridge.asn.au.