By Hollie Harris
The Heritage Park Bushland Care Group has received $15,000 in funding from water and waste management company SUEZ to help contribute to the conservation of Wooroi Creek in Heritage Park.
The grant is a part of the SUEZ Community Grants program which awards funding to community organisations and projects across Australia that have a positive impact in their local communities.
State Member for Noosa Glen Elmes spoke at the cheque presentation and said this was conservation in practice, exhibited by people who had a real love for the environment.
“Joan Heavey, Group Leader of the Heritage Park Bushland Care Group set herself a goal to continue her work in this area until she turns 85 years of age, thankfully we will have her for a few decades yet,” Mr Elmes said.
“To be honest, the community could not afford to pay for the work that Joan and her team do. It is priceless because the tasks are endless as are the hours of work involved.
“You simply have to see to believe the significant in-roads Joan and the team have made in the eradication of the invasive Singapore daisy along Wooroi Creek – the difference they have made is nothing short of amazing, and so is the poison free innovation with which they approach the problem.
“It is so encouraging to see commercial operations give back to the environment through community groups like this, and I applaud the SUEZ group for their generous grant program,” he said.
The funding will be used to support the Heritage Park Creek and Community Alliance with the removal of invasive weeds from Wooroi Creek banks as well as additional planting, signage and educational material for the community.
Noosa-based Plant manager for SUEZ, Michael O’Connell, was delighted to present the cheque to Heritage Park Bushland Care Group Leader Ms Joan Heavey at the cheque ceremony on Wednesday.
“It was my pleasure to present the cheque to the Heritage Park Bushland Care Group. Looking after our waterways and parklands is an excellent way to engage the local community,” Mr O’Connell said.
“SUEZ is proud to be supporting the conservation of both Heritage Park and Wooroi Creek, which is not only a feeder creek to the Noosa River but home to several threatened species in the area,” he said.
The SUEZ Community Grants program is now in its third year and the company has donated more than $400,000 to community organisations across Australia.
