New environment education centre on track

THE first earthworks for the Lismore City Environment Education Centre – a project first mooted 15 years ago – started on Monday at the Wyrallah Road tip.

Lismore City Council's Waste Operations Coordinator Kevin Trustum is thrilled work on the Lismore City Environment Education Centre has begun.

THE first earthworks for the Lismore City Environment Education Centre - a project first mooted 15 years ago - started on Monday at the Wyrallah Road Waste Facility.

Lismore City Council has invested $220,000 in the centre, which will be used for Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens open days; school and community group tours; staff and community training; and as a venue for environmental community organisations to meet.

The Lismore City Environment Education Centre will focus on waste and recycling, botanic gardens, wastewater, stormwater, koalas, rehabilitation, weeds and floodplain management.

The council's waste operations coordinator Kevin Trustum said the centre would provide a "unique educational experience to school students and people who visit the waste facility covering a wide variety of environmental issues".

"It's very exciting to see this centre taking shape," he said.

"Making children aware of the environment around them and how their activities impact on their environment is really important, whether that relates to waste or the koalas they see in trees.

"When people have a sense of ownership and understanding of their natural environment from a young age it tends to create aware and responsible behaviour as they grow into adults."

The Lismore City Environment Education Centre will include externally accessible male and female disabled toilets (allowing for access while the botanic gardens are open), office space, a kitchenette and a large open presentation/meeting room.

It is expected to be open by March 2013.