Holden and Landcare Australia launch H.E.L.P in South Australia

Holden and Landcare Australia have officially launched the South Australian H.E.L.P – Holden Environment Landcare Partnership.

The South Australian H.E.L.P initiative will provide support to effectively restore the integrity of the native vegetation and wildlife habitat, impacted by recent bushfires in 2007 and 2009 in the Friends of Englebrook Reserve, Bridgewater in the Adelaide Hills.

As part of the restoration project, the South Australian H.E.L.P project will be championing the habitat restoration and research project for the nationally endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot.

Recent bushfires in the reserve have had an adverse direct impact on the bandicoots with short-term loss of their shelter and the potential for increased exposure to predators.

The project will allow for scientific research and improved community monitoring to trace the nocturnal, small, furry mammals in their environment, monitor their exposure to risk and gain insight into their behavioural patterns.

Holden Executive Director, Manufacturing, Martyn Cray said the partnership is an exciting opportunity to grow what has been a very successful partnership with Landcare in South Australia.

“The partnership with Holden and Landcare stretches almost a decade and it remains strong because of a joint vision of Holden and Landcare to see the local environment rejuvenate itself and grow for future generations” Mr Cray said.

“In a time of unprecedented natural disasters, the new partnership in South Australia is a wonderful opportunity for Holden to support a local habitat that has suffered due to bushfires in the Adelaide Hills” he said.

Landcare Australia CEO Heather Campbell said H.E.L.P had the potential to make a significant impact on the environment.

“The support from Holden to help rehabilitate native habitats will also restore biodiversity in four affected communities around Australia. Holden’s ongoing commitment to Landcare projects in South Australia is not only financial; their contribution includes staff getting their hands dirty by volunteering at the project sites.” said Heather Campbell.

H.E.L.P projects

Friends of Englebrook Reserve, Bridgewater in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia

Wildhaven Refuge, St. Andrews, Victoria

Redlands City Council Bushcare – Station Street Bushcare Group, Queensland

Billyrambija Landcare Group – Tarlo River, west of Goulburn, New South Wales

Photo:  Holden’s Executive director of Manufacturing, Martyn Cray (centre) with Landcare Australia CEO, Heather Campbell (left), Cleland Wildlife Park’s Andrea Smith holding Bandit the bandicoot.