Uni welcomes government support for Glenthorne
![The University aims to reclaim farmland at Glenthorne and reconstruct a suitable habitat that encourages the return of native species. Glenthorne would be used as a model for revegetation of 150,000ha across the Mt Lofty region.](/news/thumb12921/glenthorne_web.jpg)
The University aims to reclaim farmland at Glenthorne and reconstruct a suitable habitat that encourages the return of native species. Glenthorne would be used as a model for revegetation of 150,000ha across the Mt Lofty region.
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Tuesday, 24 March 2009
The University of Adelaide welcomes the State Government's announcement that it will help to realise a major environmental initiative aimed at restoring native woodland to the Mt Lofty Ranges.
The project - known as the Woodland Recovery Initiative - has been proposed by the University in a bid to halt an expected drastic decline of species across the Mt Lofty Ranges.
As part of the Woodland Recovery Initiative, the University aims to:
- establish a world-class environment research centre at the University's property at Glenthorne, south of Adelaide;
- reclaim approximately 100ha of farmland at Glenthorne and reconstruct a suitable habitat that encourages the return of native species;
- use Glenthorne as a model for much-needed revegetation throughout the Mt Lofty region, and as a base from which this work could be launched.
To provide enough ongoing funding for the project to succeed over the next 100 years, the University proposed to establish a $100 million trust fund by developing 63ha of the land at Glenthorne.
"In doing this, the University had taken a financially responsible approach aimed at preventing any impact on the public purse," said the Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor James McWha.
"Such a project requires substantial and ongoing funding, and is a large commitment for any one government, State or Federal. However, a project such as this is also drastically needed to help prevent further species loss in the region, which is something the State Government acknowledges.
"Since announcing the Woodland Recovery Initiative last year, the University has been encouraged by the support that it has received from within government, from environmental groups and from the wider community.
"We are very pleased that the State Government has announced that it will identify alternative sources of funding for our major environmental project, and we look forward to working with the government on helping to turn this vision into a reality," Professor McWha said.
Glenthorne will remain operational as a small-scale farm while the University works through further details with the State Government on the Woodland Recovery Initiative.
www.adelaide.edu.au/woodland-recovery
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