School wins heritage funds

THE Palmwoods State School has received a boost as one of seven Sunshine Coast groups to receive funding under the Natural Heritage Trust funding scheme.

Member for Fairfax, Alex Somlyay said the Sunshine Coast featured prominently in the first round of funding for Natural Heritage Trust projects.

The Palmwoods State School received much needed funds for its Remnant Sclerophyll Forest project.

The project sets out to identify and label plant species in remnant forests, and to record and monitor growth of these species.

The team removes any feral plants endemic to Palmwoods and Hunchy with the aim of establishing pathways and information study areas to prevent erosion, monitor selected specimens, water quality of feeder creeks and pond and to establish a fauna register.

Mr Somlyay said the Natural Heritage Trust funding was a major step in the Government’s environmental action plan to conserve and restore Australia’s natural resources.

"I am extremely pleased that my electorate has faired so well as the competition for the funding dollar was extremely tough, with thousands of applications being received," he said.

"The Sunshine Coast is an area of environmental significance and the number of successful applicants demonstrates this."