Working With The Community For A Greener Future
In 2018, Greenfleet, Telstra employees and Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council joined forces to plant over 1,000 native and fruit trees in the remote community of Kowanyama, Far North Queensland.
This revegetation project will deliver a wide range of benefits, including environmental, health and well-being outcomes for the local community.
Greenfleet coordinated a major community planting event on World Environment Day, 5 June 2018. More than 100 students from Kowanyama State School and members of the RISE Ventures’ youth program participated, taking practical action on our climate and the environment.
Why It Matters
Greenfleet and Telstra worked closely with Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council to understand the community’s needs and, following consultation, planted a mix of native and fruit-bearing trees.
Kowanyama is located in the Cape York peninsula with limited access to regular deliveries of fresh food.
The fruit-bearing trees were selected to create a source of affordable fresh fruit for the community, including bush lemons, mangos and mulberries.
Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Michael Yam said, “the new trees will provide a much-needed source of fresh fruit for the local community. We are delighted to be collaborating on this initiative, that supports our focus on healthy lifestyles, a safe community and economic opportunities.”
The native trees planted as part of the project will contribute to protecting the climate and local environment, and assist with beautification of the town as well as reversing some of the damage caused by Cyclone Nora in 2018.
Greenfleet is proud to have played a pivotal role in this project. It is a clear demonstration of what can be achieved when business, local government, the community, and not-for-profit partners unite for our environment.
Telstra and its employees are one of Greenfleet’s largest supporters, contributing to over 1.4 million trees being planted and offsetting more than 370,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions since 2003.
