Published Thursday, 19 June, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
500,000TH QFLEET TREE PLANTED
QFleet’s involvement in the national Greenfleet program has reached a milestone with Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten today planting the partnership’s 500,000th tree near Ipswich.
Mr Schwarten said the planting of the tree at the Purga Nature Reserve demonstrated the government’s long-term commitment to reducing and offsetting the greenhouse emissions from its vehicle fleet.
“QFleet has supported Greenfleet, a national not-for-profit and Federally-accredited organisation, since 2002,” Mr Schwarten said.
“Since then, trees have been planted across the state including at Springbrook, Bundaberg, Ingham and here at Ipswich where the 500,000th tree has been planted today.
“When QFleet’s trees are fully grown, it’s estimated that they will have negated approximately 150 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to taking more than 38,000 cars off the road for one year.”
Mr Schwarten said QFleet was currently the largest subscribers to Greenfleet and the first single supporter organisation to achieve the 500,000 trees planted milestone.
“Greenfleet’s vision is to plant permanent, biodiverse forests,” Mr Schwarten said.
“Only tree species native to a particular area are used and where possible, seedlings are sourced locally.
“The plantings will deliver benefits such as re-establishing native ecosystems, providing fauna habitat, assisting in maintaining water quality and helping to battle soil salinity.
“It’s fitting that we planted our 500,000th tree in the Purga Nature Reserve at Ipswich, where 10,000 Swamp Tea-trees (Melaleuca irbyana) sometimes called the Bush-house Tea-tree, are the key species being planted.
“The Swamp Tea-tree forest is a valued ecosystem and only occurs in south-eastern Queensland where it has been listed as ‘critically endangered’. This new planting will help guarantee its survival.”
Mr Schwarten said QFleet would play an integral role in achieving the Queensland Government’s ClimateSmart 2050 target of offsetting 50 percent of its greenhouse emissions by 2010, and 100 percent by 2020.
“On top of this QFleet is also working to achieve the Bligh Government’s ambitious plan to slash car emissions,” he said.
“Two weeks ago I farewelled the last V8 from the passenger fleet and QFleet is adding more diesel, hybrid, micro, light and small vehicles to the passenger fleet as part of our plan to cut emissions by 15% over the next three years.
“That will grow to 25% in five years and 50% in ten years.
“Based on current annual carbon dioxide emissions for the QFleet fleet this would result in a reduction from 79,300 tonnes per annum to approximately 39,000 tonnes per annum, which is the equivalent of taking approximately 10,000 vehicles off the road for one year.
“This is an ambitious plan but it is essential if we are to play our part in helping mitigate the impacts of climate change.”
Greenfleet CEO, Sara Gipton applauded the actions taken by QFleet.
“As a not-for-profit organisation our aim is to make a difference, not a profit, and our philosophy revolves around a combined effort to avoid, reduce and offset greenhouse gas emissions,” Ms Gipton said.
“QFleet’s lead is one that every Queensland business should follow.”
Media contact: Minister Schwarten’s office – Scott Chandler on (07) 3237 1832
Greenfleet – Merryn Coutts on 0447 851 782
Mr Schwarten said the planting of the tree at the Purga Nature Reserve demonstrated the government’s long-term commitment to reducing and offsetting the greenhouse emissions from its vehicle fleet.
“QFleet has supported Greenfleet, a national not-for-profit and Federally-accredited organisation, since 2002,” Mr Schwarten said.
“Since then, trees have been planted across the state including at Springbrook, Bundaberg, Ingham and here at Ipswich where the 500,000th tree has been planted today.
“When QFleet’s trees are fully grown, it’s estimated that they will have negated approximately 150 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to taking more than 38,000 cars off the road for one year.”
Mr Schwarten said QFleet was currently the largest subscribers to Greenfleet and the first single supporter organisation to achieve the 500,000 trees planted milestone.
“Greenfleet’s vision is to plant permanent, biodiverse forests,” Mr Schwarten said.
“Only tree species native to a particular area are used and where possible, seedlings are sourced locally.
“The plantings will deliver benefits such as re-establishing native ecosystems, providing fauna habitat, assisting in maintaining water quality and helping to battle soil salinity.
“It’s fitting that we planted our 500,000th tree in the Purga Nature Reserve at Ipswich, where 10,000 Swamp Tea-trees (Melaleuca irbyana) sometimes called the Bush-house Tea-tree, are the key species being planted.
“The Swamp Tea-tree forest is a valued ecosystem and only occurs in south-eastern Queensland where it has been listed as ‘critically endangered’. This new planting will help guarantee its survival.”
Mr Schwarten said QFleet would play an integral role in achieving the Queensland Government’s ClimateSmart 2050 target of offsetting 50 percent of its greenhouse emissions by 2010, and 100 percent by 2020.
“On top of this QFleet is also working to achieve the Bligh Government’s ambitious plan to slash car emissions,” he said.
“Two weeks ago I farewelled the last V8 from the passenger fleet and QFleet is adding more diesel, hybrid, micro, light and small vehicles to the passenger fleet as part of our plan to cut emissions by 15% over the next three years.
“That will grow to 25% in five years and 50% in ten years.
“Based on current annual carbon dioxide emissions for the QFleet fleet this would result in a reduction from 79,300 tonnes per annum to approximately 39,000 tonnes per annum, which is the equivalent of taking approximately 10,000 vehicles off the road for one year.
“This is an ambitious plan but it is essential if we are to play our part in helping mitigate the impacts of climate change.”
Greenfleet CEO, Sara Gipton applauded the actions taken by QFleet.
“As a not-for-profit organisation our aim is to make a difference, not a profit, and our philosophy revolves around a combined effort to avoid, reduce and offset greenhouse gas emissions,” Ms Gipton said.
“QFleet’s lead is one that every Queensland business should follow.”
Media contact: Minister Schwarten’s office – Scott Chandler on (07) 3237 1832
Greenfleet – Merryn Coutts on 0447 851 782