23/07/2004
Up to 100 Canberra executives and staff from the Department of Family and Community Services (FaCSIA) will today roll up their sleeves and don gardening gloves to make an early start for Sunday's National Tree Day – Australia's biggest community tree-planting event.
The Secretary of FaCSIA, Mr Mark Sullivan, said the Department would also be demonstrating its continued commitment to improving the environment by showcasing two environmentally friendly vehicles including a hybrid electric car.
FaCSIA is taking the lead among government agencies with its commitment to the Triple Bottom Line report, which guides organisations towards creating positive economic, social and environmental values while minimising any harm or damage caused by its activities.
FaCSIA staff will be planting new trees as well as drought-proofing 120 trees planted last October to replace trees lost in the 2003 bushfires. The ACT Government will provide equipment for the task.
Mr Sullivan said: 'The tree-planting by FaCSIA executive and staff is another practical demonstration by our organisation of its commitment to making a positive contribution to the community and the environment in which we all live.
'FaCSIA is further demonstrating that commitment with the showcasing of more environmentally friendly cars which are set to become a significant part of the department's vehicle fleet.'
On show will be the Toyota Prius Hybrid, which combines electric and petrol motors and is used by FaCSIA to deliver Ministerial correspondence. The vehicle averages 5.44 litres per 100 km.
A second vehicle on show, the Holden Vectra 6 meets stringent European emission standards. Both vehicles are helping FaCSIA meet an Australian Government mandate that 28 per cent of its fleet must meet tight environmental standards by 31 December 2005.
National Tree Day last year saw more than 247,000 people plant 2.2 million native trees and shrubs at 340 locations. Further details about this year's event can be found at
Planet Ark.