26/5/96
Bunbury Regional Prison is playing a major role in `greening' the South-West, Assisting Justice Minister Kevin Minson said today.
The prison grows thousands of native plants every year for the Greening the South-West program, which is co-ordinated by a committee of 20 including representatives from the community, conservation groups, industry and local government groups.
The plants are planted over 12 shires from Bunbury to Boyup Brook and Manjimup, along road sides, on farms, public reserves and industrial sites.
Mr Minson said the prison initially became involved in the program in 1990, when about 15,000 plants were grown in the prison nursery in the first year.
"Over the past three years, the prison has been providing about 65,000 plants annually, to beautify areas in the South-West for future generations to enjoy," he said.
The program is partly sponsored by industry and also receives State Government funding through the South-West Development Commission, as well as support from Greening WA.
Community and industry groups, farmers and schools are some of the groups who have made submissions to the Greening the South-West committee for a planting project.
Once the submission is assessed and accepted, the seedlings are provided free of charge.
Mr Minson said the project was an important part of prisoner management at Bunbury Regional Prison.
"This type of community work gives the prisoners involved a sense of achievement as they can eventually see the benefits of their labours," he said.
"The Greening the South-West project involves two prisoners full-time in the nursery, and there have been a number of examples where prisoners have been able to gain employment in the nursery industry at the completion of their sentence."
Media contact: Caroline Lacy (09) 222 9211
