The annual council-community carbon offset program sees the shire share $6000 among a number of local groups for the purpose of planting trees.

Moyne Shire councillors voted to allocate this year’s funds to the Port Fairy to Warrnambool Rail Trail Committee of Management ($1200), Killarney Coastcare ($1500), Panmure Primary School ($177), Ellerslie Residents Group ($1500), St Patrick’s Primary School Port Fairy ($624), and Grassmere Primary School ($999).

The funding is conditional on the planting happening on public land which is either council-owned or -managed or community-owned or -managed, with a preference for the use of native plants with at least 50 per cent being trees (as opposed to shrubs or smaller plants).

According to the report to council, the application by the Ellerslie Residents Group caused some consternation, as it requested additional funding for tree guards to protect plants planted on the road reserve near the Hopkins River.

Planting in road reserves is generally not allowed in the program, but officers deemed the road reserve wide enough to accommodate the plants, with the tree guard funding justified due to the planting being in a flood-prone area.

The Ellerslie request also failed to meet the 50 per cent tree requirement, but the group has since indicated it will reach that target.

Cr Jill Parker said the carbon offset program was a long-running and very worthwhile project.

“The people involved are very enthusiastic and I’m pleased to see school’s involved … (as it) adds to the children’s education and enthusiasm for the environment. It’s money well spent,” Cr Parker said.

Cr Mick Wolfe said it was a great project, while Cr Jordan Lockett said it was another example of Moyne Shire being “one of the greenest shire’s in the country”.