The Palaszczuk Government is recognising the amazing work of Sunshine Coast environmental heroes, including school students who are protecting the region's koalas, and a retirement village who are recycling for charity.
As part of the Palaszczuk Government's Governing from the Sunshine Coast program this week, Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch today visited Montessori International College, Forest Glen, where students have planted 120 trees as part of a koala fodder plantation, with the help of Queensland Koala Crusaders Inc.
The Minister also dropped into Living Choice retirement village at Kawana Island, where residents have been donating their used cans and bottles to charity as part of Queensland's container refund scheme, Containers for Change.
"It's wonderful to see so many Sunshine Coast residents taking part in initiatives that are protecting our environment," Ms Enoch said.
"At Montessori International College, the next generation are taking an interest in wildlife and doing whatever they can to help our koalas.
"With the help of Queensland Koala Crusaders Inc, students have planted 120 trees as part of a koala fodder plantation, and once the trees are fully grown, the leaves will help feed koalas that are being rehabilitated."
At Living Choice, Minister Enoch met with residents who collect containers from the village and donate the refunds to Sunshine Coast charity Wishlist.
"It was wonderful to meet the dedicated residents today who have returned about 19,000 containers to raise money for charity.
"One of the best parts of Containers for Change is the funding stream it provides to community groups and charities, and it's fantastic to see Sunshine Coast groups benefiting from this.
"Across the Sunshine Coast region, more than 12.7 million containers have been returned since the scheme started, and more than 283 million have been returned across Queensland.
"Businesses are also seeing the opportunities that this scheme provides, and a new site will be opening on the Sunshine Coast very soon, at Cooroy."
Resident Marion Hempfing and her husband Klaus said they take eligible empty containers from around the village.
"I come from Germany - the people there are trained to recycle. You can get fined if you put the wrong thing in the wrong bin!" she said.
Ken Noye is CEO of COEX, the company in responsible for implementing the scheme, and he said it was great to see retirement villages join the schools, universities and community groups getting on board the scheme.
"I strongly encourage other retirement villages to consider taking advantage of the fundraising opportunities the scheme offers," he said.
"They can donate the refunds to good causes like Marion has, or raise funds to go towards their Christmas parties or a special projects."
