19 February 2009

Hermit Park State School are turning their school grounds into habitat sanctuaries for native wildlife.

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts Peter Garrett announced late last year that the students were receiving a Reef Guardian School Award for their outstanding environmental efforts.

The ‘Habitat Heroes Award’ recognises the school’s efforts in providing new habitat for the native bush stone-curlew and comes with one thousand dollars from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to expand their environmental activities.

Senator Jan McLucas, when presenting the award to the school, said the students were working in partnership with Townsville City Council and Greencorp volunteers to restore curlew habitat at the back of the school.

“Bush stone-curlews are an icon of Townsville, and we are fortunate to have them here.

“They were formally very common throughout Australia but have declined in many areas due to habitat loss and predation by feral cats.

“Habitat restoration is important for protection of our catchments and for the Great Barrier Reef and this school is setting an excellent example of how we can all do our bit to help the environment.”

Hermit Park School also maintains a butterfly enclosure that houses Australia’s largest butterfly, the Cairns birdwing butterfly.

Actions to protect the Reef are especially important in the face of climate change which is the greatest long-term threat to the Great Barrier Reef.

The Award will be presented on Thursday 19 February at 10:30am at Surrey and Sussex Streets Hermit Park.