‘Limeburners Link’ is a three-year, $300,000 program that will focus on community training and engagement in environmental restoration at Limeburners Lagoon - one of the best-preserved estuary systems in the Port Philip Bay Ramsar wetland area. [1] In launching the program the Member for Geelong Province and the Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, The Hon. Elaine Carbines, MLC, recognised the importance of companies such as Shell in engaging with the community and government sectors and working together on issues of importance to the community. “Limeburners Lagoon, situated just 35 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD, provides habitat for more than 40 of the State’s endangered and threatened species,” Ms Carbines said. “The area is also home to a rich diversity of grasses and small plants, contains the most extensive stand of mangroves and is likely the largest intact salt marsh in Port Phillip Bay. “The partnership between Greening Australia and Shell is to be applauded as it demonstrates a real commitment to develop a long-term rehabilitation plan for the area,” she said. Chairman Greening Australia Victoria, Rob Gell, said Limeburners Link provides an opportunity to engage the community in doing something meaningful to address grassland decline, while also providing added protection for the estuary. “The work that the community is embarking on will enhance Limeburners Bay by contributing to the restoration of this ecosystem. The lessons learned in this process will serve grassland enhancement methods while also strengthening community bonds across the region,” said Rob. Volunteer activities planned for the project will involve hundreds of students from Geelong Grammar and 15 local primary schools as well as local community and Landcare groups and employees from Shell refinery and the City of Greater Geelong. Training will be provided to deliver opportunities for individuals in the local community to gain skills and knowledge in the growing field of vegetation restoration and enhancement. Chairman of Shell in Australia, Russell Caplan, said this collaboration is taking Shell and Greening Australia’s partnership to a new level. “'We are pleased to extend our successful national partnership with Greening Australia through to the Limeburners Link project,” said Russell. “Shell is particularly keen to support national community business partnerships that can be delivered direct into communities like Geelong where we have a presence. We look forward to seeing the improvements to this significant environmental location and to supporting the Geelong community, including Shell's employees, through training, the schools program and community planting days," he said. Shell’s commitment to Limeburners Link follows its initiative with Greening Australia WA delivering the Reconnections project in the south west of Western Australia, one of the world’s top 25 biodiversity hotspots. Reconnections was a Banksia Environmental Foundation Award finalist in 2006. City of Greater Geelong Mayor Cr Peter McMullin said Limeburners Link is an example of how partnership projects can achieve more than the sum of their parts. “It is especially heartening to see such enthusiastic involvement of corporate and community groups in environmental projects - this kind of partnership is vital if we are to protect and rehabilitate our natural environment in the years to come,” Cr McMullin said. “The City is blessed with a number of wetland ecosystems and we place strong emphasis on ensuring their conservation. In August Council adopted the Geelong Wetland Strategy to guide management and protection of the hundreds of wetlands - large and small - scattered throughout the municipality.” Further information on both programs can be found by visiting www.shell.com.au/socialinvestment and www.greeningaustralia.org.au. ENDS
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