SQUIRREL GLIDERS

Ms JODIE HARRISON(Charlestown)As debates rage about how best to care for the unique flora and fauna that inhabit our continent, one group of dedicated Landcarers in Dudley has achieved extraordinary results in rehabilitating Fern Creek Gully. The group has removed the weeds and invasive species from the area, a patch of land behind residences at Dudley, and planted about 1300 tube stock - a mixture of rainforest and squirrel glider habitat trees. Squirrel gliders, which are listed as a threatened species, are at risk because of urbanization, habitat disruption and attacks by feral animals. The Fern Creek Gully Landcare group has discovered five of the cute little possums in their patch of bushland, including a den tree! My congratulations to coordinators Gabrielle Stacey and Peter Dalton for their fantastic work leading this group, and to all the volunteers who have made this possible. It's great to see a patch of the Charlestown Electorate being made welcoming to native animals.

A Community Recognition Statement is an opportunity for an MP to give a short speech praising the work of an individual or group in the local community. If you have any ideas about people I can recognise with a Community Recognition Statement, please email and let me know!