Holden and Landcare Australia launch H.E.L.P initiative

Photo: Left to right - Rob Close, Blair Blashki, Jorgen Nielsen, David Phalen with Laura from Taronga Zoo and Yindi the koala

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

The New South Wales H.E.L.P initiative forms part of a national H.E.L.P program funded by Holden and will provide support to Billyrambija Landcare Group, the University of Sydney and the University of Western Sydney as they bring five koalas to the Tarlo River National Park and help establish a founding colony.

The project will help the koalas, who have been rescued and rehabilitated, settle into their new habitat and re-establish the koala population of the fire-affected national park.

The H.E.L.P program has already provided support for the purchase of satellite radio collars to track the koalas. These collars will help researchers from the University of Sydney and the University of Western Sydney answer questions about koala translocation and improve future attempts to rehabilitate koala populations in bushfire-affected areas.

Holden Director, Energy, Environment and Technology, Richard Marshall said this was an exciting initiative that had the potential for Holden to build further on its long-term partnership with Landcare Australia.

“Our sponsorship of Landcare Australia has continued since 2002 because of Holden’s strong belief in seeing our environment survive and thrive for future generations,” Mr Marshall said.

“This is also a wonderful opportunity for Holden to support the habitats of native fauna that have suffered due to bushfires.  We have worked with Landcare for over eight years to protect the environments around our facilities in Victoria and South Australia and we are very pleased to extend that partnership into NSW.”

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 commitment to Landcare projects is not only financial; their contribution includes staff getting their hands dirty by volunteering at some of the project sites.” said Heather Campbell.

H.E.L.P. projects:

Billyrambija Landcare Group – Tarlo River, New South Wales

Wildhaven Refuge – St Andrews, Victoria

Redlands City Council Bushcare – Station St Bushcare Group, Queensland

Friends of Englebrooke Reserve – Bridgewater South Australia