TRAINEES ASSIST IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION AFTER BUSHFIRE

Eleven trainees have graduated from the Conservation and Land Management (CaLM) program after helping restore the historic Binna Burra Lodge campgrounds.

The graduates, who received a certificate one qualification in Conservation and Land Management, are supported by the State Government and Belong and worked on environmental projects across the Scenic Rim.

Their initial work, which began mid- 2019, was undertaking maintenance of previous cohorts' plantings, including watering, staking, weeding, and prepping for further works.

However, after September's devastating bushfires, the team were diverted to assist in the restoration of the campgrounds at Binna Burra Lodge.

Council's One Million Tree program provided 3000 native plants for the revegetation of the area.

Divisional Councillor Virginia West said the entire group had been dedicated to assisting the community of Binna Burra after the historic loss. 

"This program will really help Binna Burra get back on their feet when the road is re-opened," she said.

"They have put in tremendous efforts at Fassifern Reserve, Il-bogan, Riverbend, Pioneer Reserve at Beechmont, Yellow Pinch Reserve at the base of Mount Barney and the Shelf Road Reserve.

"Each site presented different challenges however, at the same time, they were all working to achieve common goals throughout the region."

Belong Employment and Training Manager Tim Early said the partnership with Council has grown from strength to strength, through a passion for the environment and helping locals with their employability skills. 

“This is our third Skilling Queenslanders for Work project partnering with Council, through an 18 week schedule of work," he said.

“The trainees had to cope with high temperatures, early morning starts, rock hard soil, smoke hazards and countless other things that nature throws at us, but they did not waiver.

“The spirit of Binna Burra is now firmly lodged into the hearts of those extraordinary group of trainees and by extension the whole Belong team.”

The State Government's Skilling Queenslanders for Work CaLM program will continue to support the regeneration of public spaces in the Scenic Rim throughout the next round of traineeships.