A Green Army team has been deployed to enhance Forster’s coastline and environment.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment and Member for Paterson, Bob Baldwin, visited the team today and saw first-hand the impact they’re already making to the area.

“Over the coming months, the team will be revegetating, propagating plants, treating weeds, fencing and removing debris to improve connectivity along the Forster coastline and clean up the Wallis Lake foreshore,” Mr Baldwin said.

“This project will enhance and improve the resilience of pockets of the littoral rainforest along the Forster coastline, home to diverse plant species which is under pressure from urbanisation and weed invasion.

“The project will also include work to clean up Wallis Lake foreshore to reduce the amount of rubbish.

“I’ve seen the success projects like this are having right across the country and having one right here in the Paterson electorate will benefit the local Forster community environmentally and also provide our young people with training and skills to help them create a pathway for their future.”

The Green Army programme provides opportunities for young Australians aged 17-24 years to gain training and experience in environmental and heritage conservation fields and explore careers in conservation management, while participating in projects that generate real benefits for the environment.

The Australian Government has allocated more than $700 million for the programme over four years from 1 July 2015.

Further information on the Green Army is available online at www.environment.gov.au/green-army