03/12/08 – MEDIA RELEASE TRRCR FLAGSHIP PROJECT
New Interpretive Shelter to be opened at TRRCR
An impressive new Interpretive Education Shelter will be unveiled today at the Traralgon Railway Reservoir Conservation Reserve (TRRCR) as the centerpiece of a major investment between business, local government and the community.
International Power will join Latrobe City Council and the Friends of the Railway Reserve to launch the project worth more than $95,000.
International Power Australia’s Executive Director, Mr Tony Concannon, will officially open the Centre at 11.00am today along with Latrobe City Chief Executive Paul Buckley and John Lawson from the Friends Group.
The Traralgon-based Railway Reserve was awarded funding from International Power’s annual Flagship Award Program in 2005/6. The Reserve won out over applications from IPR’s extensive global asset portfolio and was awarded $95,000 in funding to assist in completing this major stage of the TRRCR development.
The new Interpretative Centre features educational and historical information regarding the evolution of the Reserve and its significance to the local environment International Power’s Tony Concannon, said the Railway Reserve was a “tremendous local facility worthy of the Flagship Award status”.
“This is a place we can all be very proud of and our Loy Yang B staff have been very pleased to work with the Friends Group and Latrobe City to help develop the reserve to its full potential,” Mr Concannon said.
“The opening of this educational facility will enhance the experience for all visitors. It will provide the materials to educate our community on the history of the reserve and the native flora and fauna which live here.”
The Flagship Award supplements a national program of community support within Australia by International Power that contributes over $850,000 into a diverse range of community requests. Latrobe City Chief Executive, Mr Paul Buckley, said the community was encouraged to visit, enjoy and care for a facility considered as “one of Latrobe City’s best kept secrets”.
“The Traralgon Railway Reserve has a very proud history and this new Interpretive Shelter will provide our Latrobe community with yet another outstanding facility that celebrates this unique and peaceful environment,” Mr Buckley said.
“It is a wonderful asset for the whole of Latrobe City and we again commend International Power for their generous support and their willingness to assist local community-based projects that celebrate the diversity and liveability of our community.”
Friends Group spokesperson, Mr John Lawson, said the facility exists “for all the people of this region; from the time of our earliest indigenous inhabitants to today’s multicultural society”. “This facility and the display information helps provide the connection between the Reserve’s history and the conservation, habitat and biodiversity values such places contain for our community and our future,” Mr Lawson said.
“It is especially directed towards the children and now offers an educational experience to add to the pleasure children have had playing in the reserve down the years. “ The Railway Reserve is open to visitors 365 days a year offering tranquil surroundings, walking tracks and diverse species of flora and fauna.
Media Contact:
Neil Lawson
Public Affairs Manager
International Power Australia
Ph: (03) 5135 5093
Mob: 0407 842 285
Email: neil.lawson@hazelwoodpower.com
EDITORS NOTE’S
BACKGROUND ON Traralgon Railway Reservoir Conservation Reserve (TRRCR)
Providing a sanctuary of natural wetlands for native flora and fauna, the TRRCR on Traralgon’s south side is a place of retreat for residents and visitors to enjoy. Established in 1844 and originally a reservoir used by the Victorian Railways to fill their steam engines, today it is home to a diverse number of trees, shrubs and grasses as well as migratory and local water birds.
Since 1996, a group of volunteers, the “Friends of the TRRCR” have managed the reserve undertaking maintenance and construction projects. In 1999, Loy Yang B became involved providing funding for the ongoing development of the Reserve.
In conjunction with IPRA’s extensive Landcare program, thousands of new trees, shrubs and native grasses have also been planted in the past decade. As part of the Flagship Project, an ecological assessment was undertaken during 2006. A species of national significance, the Matted Flax-lily (Dianella amoena) – which is listed as endangered on the federal endangered species list – was recorded.
The opening of a new Interpretive Shelter at TRRCR is aimed at supporting the development of education opportunities and in consultation with the Friends, funding from the Flagship Award has also supported improvements to existing facilities including a new roof for the ‘bird hide’.
BACKGROUND ON FLAGSHIP FUNDING
The IPR Flagship Project Award is an annual global funding Award worth approximately A$230,000 run by International Power plc for worthy community-based projects which aim to improve the local environment and community in which they are situated. Applications are usually submitted by IPR employees or IPR assets on behalf of community partnership programs and assessed by a judgment panel in IPR’s London office. Flagship Awards have been made to projects in Pakistan, Czech Repuplic, UK, Australia, USA and Saudi Arabia
The Gippsland region has been very successful in recent years with the TRRCR gaining funding in 2006 and the Scope Centre in Warragul also gaining a major award of $200,000 in 2007.
International Power plc (IPR) is a leading power generation company with interests in 45 power stations in 20 countries around the world. Headquartered in London, IPR owns an asset portfolio with 33,209MW gross (21,340MW net) in operation and 2,862MW gross (840MW net) under construction.
Mitsui & Co.Ltd is a major Japanese trading company engaged in a number of worldwide commodity businesses. The company offers a breadth of products and services in virtually all industries including iron, steel, and transportation logistics.
Together, this partnership makes up an international consortium, which trades under the name International Power Mitsui (IPM). Loy Yang B power station is owned under this consortium, with IPR owning 70 per cent of the business and Mitsui & Co., Ltd owning the remaining 30 per cent.
