Barrack Heights community preschool students from left, Fletcher, Olivia, Molly, Aidan and Corey with Shellharbour City Council Mayor Marianne Saliba at the funding announcement for the Growing Minds Greening Communities program.
SHELLHARBOUR City Council has received more than $95,000 in funding from the NSW government to help childcare centres develop environmental initiatives and provide environmental education.
The money will fund the Growing Minds Greening Communities program, which any childcare centre in the Shellharbour Local government area can choose to participate in.
The program will address issues such as waste minimisation, water and energy consumption, biodiversity conservation and sustainable food production within childcare centres and households and will also have a specific focus on engaging with centres and families from low socio-economic areas.
While the program will run through childcare centres, it is hoped what the younger members of community learn will rub off on older generations.
"The innovative nature of this program is such that while it targets our youngest citizens to develop responsible environmental practices and learn more about the environmentally sustainable practices, it will also engage our older residents in the process," Shellharbour City Mayor Marianne Saliba said.
In announcing the funding NSW Environment Minister Robyn Parker congratulated the council on developing the program.
"I commend Shellharbour City Council for this innovative project and am delighted it has been funded in this round," Ms Parker said.
"By providing children and young families with such a fun style of education, I am sure the benefits of this project will help change people's attitude and outlook towards their environment for the better."