MORE REAL ACTION ON THE ENVIRONMENT FOR MACQUARIE
10-August-2010
The Liberals will provide an additional $750,000 to take real action on the environment in the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury if elected as a Coalition Government.
Louise Markus MP, Liberal Candidate for Macquarie, together with the Shadow Treasurer, the Hon Joe Hockey MP, announced the funding during his visit to the Macquarie electorate today.
“A Coalition Government will provide $250,000 to both Blaxland East Public School and Colo High School for Flagship Solar Schools projects under the Liberals Direct Action Plan on the Environment and Climate Change,” Mrs Markus announced today.
“These projects aim to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and generate significant savings of emissions as a result. The projects will increase the sustainability of the school through a range of technologies and practices, and the project is designed to educate students and the community about our environmental obligations and responsibilities.
“Students will gain practical knowledge of techniques to reduce individual emissions and impact on the environmental footprint. Students will participate in a range of projects from planning, managing, installing, maintaining, and monitoring results against projected emissions savings.
“The schools will be encouraged to work with the local councils, businesses and environmental groups, to get the best outcomes for their projects.
“In addition, the Liberals would provide $125,000 each for Green Army Projects in Yarramundi Reserve, Yarramundi, and in Knapsack Reserve, Glenbrook, if elected,” Mrs Markus announced.
“Green Army projects are designed to encourage partnerships between community groups, schools, environmental groups, local councils and local businesses, to name a few.
“The projects will enable participants to learn a range of practical skills from bush regeneration to landscaping, weed control and revegetation.
“The Liberals care about the environment and will implement a climate change strategy based on direct action to reduce emissions and improve the environment.
“The Liberals will take direct action to reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions by 5 per cent by 2020 based on 1990 levels, and these local projects are a key part of that strategy.
“This builds on the announcement of 28 July for $2 Million for a Solar Town project in Glenbrook and Blaxland and $500,000 for the University of Western Sydney to tackle algal bloom in the Hawkesbury Nepean River as an alternative fuel source.