July 24, 2019
Alcoa digs in with Friends of The Spectacles
Alcoa employees teamed up with local volunteer group Friends of The Spectacles (FoTS) to plant nearly 800 seedlings at The Spectacles wetland, part of the Beeliar Regional Park, on Wednesday 17 July.
FoTS accessed the extra helping hands through the Alcoa Volunteers program, whereby teams of Alcoa employees can spend up to four hours of work time volunteering in the local community with non-profit organisations.
FoTS Coordinator Lynda Smith said ‘The Friends’ had planted just over 2,000 plants this season and it would not have been possible without the Alcoa team.
“The tree planting event was a wonderful success and an opportunity to connect with our neighbours from Alcoa, who were a fun group of hard workers,” Lynda said. “We look forward to working with them again next year.”
Lynda said FoTS was this year successful in securing a Community Stewardship Grant from the WA Government’s State Natural Resource Management Program, which will enable ‘The Friends’ to continue their revegetation work at The Spectacles for the next three years.
“This year’s component means that a large portion of degraded land will have weeds controlled and trees planted,” Lynda said. “This is an exciting time for us as it means we will be able to return a large portion of land that was used for farming to a more natural environment and potential habitat for a variety of fauna.”
Along with Lynda, FoTS members Linda DuBoulay and Julie D’Ercole were joined by the Alcoa team from the Kwinana Alumina Refinery to plant and place protective bags around the plants to provide protection from rabbits. The planting site was prepared by staff from the Regional Parks Unit at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
FoTS meets at The Spectacles, McLaughlan Road, Kwinana, on the third Sunday of every month from 9am – 12pm. You can keep up to date with activities and events on the Friends of The Spectacles Facebook page.
ENDS
Media contacts
Scott Hansen , Community Relations Officer, 0404 800 403, Scott.Hansen@alcoa.com
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