Over 20 locals descended on the Hinchinbrook region over the past months to assist residents, clubs and Council in cleaning up homes and parks, and revegetating sites of significance post Yasi.

The team was employed through a National Green Jobs Corps (NGJC) program which was rolled out from March to September 2011. Terrain NRM, Hinchinbrook Shire Council and Max Employment joined forces earlier in the year to plan the project and fantastic environmental and community outcomes have been the result.

Activities included preparation and maintenance of native revegetation sites, tree planting, weed control, mulching, working in the nursery and seed collection. Key sites where works were undertaken include Lucinda foreshore and wetlands, Coolbie Coastal Reserve, Palm Creek, Cattle Creek and Tyto Wetlands.

The group undertook a Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management through the Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE to further enhance their knowledge and skills relating to their work. The graduates will also benefit from the qualification potentially providing further employment opportunities. Some of the team have already secured jobs to move into at the end of the program.

To celebrate the teams' success, a graduation lunch was held at the Tyto Wetlands Cultural Centre in Ingham on 2nd September. The NGJC work has been greatly appreciated throughout the community with fantastic feedback received.

The National Green Jobs Corps Team with Ellie Bowden (NGJC Supervisor), Jo Senior (TAFE Trainer), Megan Zahmel (Hinchinbrook Shire Council), Sherry Kaurila (Hinchinbrook Shire Councilor), Pino Giandomenico (Hinchinbrook Shire Mayor), Michael Nash and Tanya Sheahan (Terrain NRM).