MAWSON LAKES ENVIRONMENT WATCH

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide) (15:25): I am delighted to inform the house about the excellent work being undertaken by the group Mawson Lakes Environment Watch. I was recently invited to meet this group and do a tour of their planting efforts. I look forward to going out and assisting at the next planting day.

Mawson Lakes Environment Watch is a great example of the kind of community group that springs up to make their local environment healthier and more beautiful. It is also an example of the strength and vibrancy of the Mawson Lakes community. In my journeying around Mawson Lakes, I heard again and again how proud the people are of the community they live in and the environment that surrounds them.

Mawson Lakes Environment Watch was launched about five years ago with the assistance of the developer Delfin Lend Lease. Links were quickly established with the City of Salisbury through the Environmental Management Officer and the group has received strong support from that officer and the Biodiversity Team. Most supplies, equipment and associated training are provided by the City of Salisbury. Mawson Lakes Environment Watch is a registered community volunteer group with the Adelaide Mount Lofty NRM Board which arranges insurance, provides training opportunities and has supplied some equipment.

I am informed that membership is open to the residents of Mawson Lakes who volunteer their time and are proactive in taking responsibility for positive environmental outcomes in Mawson Lakes. Membership is currently 49, of whom 28 are regularly active. Organisational arrangements are flexible and, while some members focus on their local area, others roam far and wide within the suburb often undertaking specific tasks.

I will list some examples of the range of activities the group undertakes: graffiti removal; weed control spraying; weeding by hand; litter clean up; tree staking and side-shoot pruning; watering newly planted seedlings to get them through their first summer; growing plants from seed; group efforts for litter clean ups such as Clean Up Australia Day; and seedling planting, involving members too numerous to mention. The coverage of Mawson Lakes Environment Watch events, and environmental issues generally, is provided by the publication Mawson Lakes Living which is an important contribution to the profile of the group.

I understand that the biggest undertaking by Mawson Lakes Environment Watch has been the development a one kilometre stretch of railway wetlands in Mawson Lakes as a biodiversity corridor. It was this corridor that I visited recently and saw how successfully the native habitat has been recreated, and it is now home to an array of bird life, in particular.

Several thousand seedlings have been planted, most of which were grown from seed by members, and the plants have been cared for through watering and weed control. As usual, when an environment is improved for biodiversity, it is also improved for people's enjoyment, and the area provides a tranquil spot for walking or cycling. When door-knocking the area over summer, I looked longingly at the pools of water and green areas designed for resting, as I trudged on to the next door and the next. It truly is a beautiful and special area.

I am pleased to note that the group received recognition for its contribution when coordinator Colin Taylor received the 2009 Living Legend Award from the City of Salisbury—clearly, a well deserved honour and one that the whole group can be proud of.