Mount Lilydale Mercy College has a new addition to its classroom stock, but this is no ordinary learning facility as it is located near the Quarry Rd sports precinct and is affectionately called the ‘outdoor classroom’. The venue was a degraded and overgrown site which, through the concerted efforts of Mr Paul Morgan and other teaching and maintenance staff, is now ready to host its first classes.
Mr Morgan was instrumental in sourcing grant funding from Melbourne Water and Yarra Valley Water and in-kind support from the Shire of Yarra Ranges’ Ribbons of Green program. The council will supply over 700 plants and grasses to be planted by numerous student and faculty groups from within the College.
Mr Aaron Violi, Federal Member for Casey (OC 2002), this week officially opened the site and noted the commitment of College staff and students in undertaking this project. It sets an example of community action that is impacting real change in the environment.
Students from various faculty groups will be actively involved in undertaking real-world learning tasks, these include water quality testing, site rehabilitation, biodiversity monitoring and landscaping.
So far, major land clearing, weed eradication and native plantings has seen the site revitalised to be conducive to hosting many learning opportunities from a variety of faculty areas.
Photos by Matthew Reilly
Casey MP Mr Aaron Violi and Mr Philip Morison.
