Local schools dig deep with WestConnex
27 Jul 2018
WestConnex is inviting local schools along the New M5 project corridor to help plant hundreds of free trees and leave a legacy for future generations. A number of local schools along the New M5 project corridor recently signed up to the initiative and almost 300 trees have been provided by WestConnex A WestConnex spokesperson said the New M5 project would deliver a net replacement of all trees removed as part of construction. “WestConnex is already planting trees along the New M5 corridor and we are inviting local schools to be part of this important initiative by funding tree planting activities for students,” the spokesperson said. “This is a great opportunity for local school children to leave their mark in a very real way " and get involved in planting trees that will become a legacy for decades to come.” This year 3,000 preschools, kindergartens, primary and high schools across Australia took part in Schools Tree Day on July 27. Schools Tree Day precedes National Tree Day on July 29, an Australia-wide celebration which started in 1996 and has involved 3.8 million people planting 24 million trees and plants. Members of the WestConnex New M5 project team visited Penshurst West Public School on Tuesday (July 24) to help students dig deep " together they planted 55 native trees within their school grounds to attract native birds and bees. Students also made seed bombs to take home to plant in their gardens. This also tied in with the students' recent studies on native bees and the importance of increasing habitat for native wildlife. “WestConnex is pro-actively working with the community to deliver on our commitment to replace all trees and we're starting 18 months before the New M5 is due for completion,” the spokesperson said. Schools within the project corridor who are interested in taking part in the New M5 tree planting initiatives can contact Asha Frost, Indigenous & Social Inclusion Manager New M5, at info@westconnex.com.au The $4.3 billion New M5 will duplicate the M5 East from King Georges Road Interchange Upgrade at Beverly Hills to a new interchange at St Peters and is on track to open in early 2020. The major feature is twin nine kilometre underground motorway tunnels between Kingsgrove and St Peters Interchange, which is located at the site of the old Alexandria landfill facility. The New M5 has provided the catalyst for the remediation of the contaminated Alexandria Landfill site and upon completion it will be transformed to enable public use for the first time in decades. Around 8.5 hectares of new green space will be created at the St Peters Interchange connecting to Sydney Park via a new land bridge across Campbell Road. The New M5 will deliver approximately 14 kilometres of new and upgraded pedestrian and cycle paths including 12 kilometres to extend and improve active transport links around St Peters and Mascot. Around two kilometres of upgraded paths will be provided at the M5 East Linear Park.
