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Improving Environment SkillsBass Coast Shire Council staff recently undertook an exercise to improve their environment management skills. By Bass Coast Shire Council - 2nd May 2006 - Back to News Controlling roadside weeds, managing roadside vegetation and protecting stormwater quality were just some of the key topics covered.
The workshops were compulsory for Council’s Parks and Roads Maintenance Team and were also attended by staff from the areas of Assets, Engineering and Local Laws.
Council’s Environment Manager, Paul Smith, said the presentation highlighted the enormous importance Westernport Bay holds for its natural, economic and recreational values.
"The bay is home to a wide range of habitat types including seagrass meadows, mudflats, mangroves, rocky reefs, kelp forests, sandy seafloors, Ramsar wetlands and marine life.
"Rainwater washes anything left in its path into the stormwater system and straight into our local waterways unfiltered and untreated.
"Our teams now have a better understanding of the impacts of poor stormwater management on our waterways and importantly, are now better equipped with methods for preventing stormwater pollution," he said.
The presentation also covered the importance of native vegetation in the municipality, highlighting the fact that less than 10 percent of indigenous vegetation remained.
"This places a great importance on protecting what we have left," Mr Smith informed.
"Research has demonstrated that in a landscape that has 35 percent of native vegetation, 80 percent of species could still survive.
"However, below that level extinctions accelerate rapidly.
"The training covered best practice for such issues as revegetation projects, road construction and maintenance, weed control and management and machinery hygiene."
Mr Smith reported that staff rated the training program as being a very informative and worthwhile exercise and have requested further training to enhance their skills and understanding of best practice. More detailed and accredited training is planned for the months ahead.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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