Hon. Sussan Ley, Federal Member for Farrer and Minister for the Environment visited Corowa Public School on Friday, February 14 to check out the project, designed to improve habitat for locally threatened species.
Corowa Public School are collaborating with Corowa District Landcare as part of their desire to become a sustainable school.
Initiatives include a productive vegetable patch and worm farm, a bush tucker garden and revegetation of a riparian environmental area to attract Squirrel Gliders-Petaurus norfolcensis, as well as native birds.
The Squirrel Glider is a threatened species that are found in woodland habitats including the riparian zone along the Murray River, possibly adjacent to the school.
It is hoped that by installing the nest boxes and improving habitat through plantings that students may be able to monitor squirrel gliders in the environmental area.
Squirrel Glider nesting boxes will be built by the Wahgunyah Men’s Shed and installed in the environmental area.
Local school children will attend a workshop at Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre at Burrumbuttock to learn more about Squirrel Gliders and their habitat requirements.
Sussan Ley is very interested in the project and was impressed to see students at Corowa Public School Samantha Barber and Jagger Doody had made nesting boxes with family members.
Staff of Corowa Public School Mel Creamer and Chris Munroe as well as Sally Hughes from Corowa District Landcare are hoping that the students and wider community take an interest in the project and realise that there are simple actions like planting nectar producing plants in a garden that can improve habitat for threatened species and wildlife.
