Rally SA joins Scouts to reduce carbon footprint

Sprint Auto Parts Rally SA have joined with Scouts SA to take action to reduce the carbon footprint of the rally over the three days it will run from July 31 – August 2.

In what is believed to be a first for rallying in Australia, Sprint Auto Parts Rally SA is working with Scouts SA to plant thousands of trees as part of the Scouts and Greenfleet’s’ Murray Darling Rescue, which has so far planted 1,000,000 trees in the Murray Darling Basin.

These trees, through a carbon agreement, will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of this fantastic motorsport event for several years. This planting is further to the action already taken by Sprint Auto Parts Rally SA with Scouts and Greenfleet.

“Sprint Auto Parts Rally SA takes its responsibility to the protection of the environment and the sustainability of its business very seriously. To help us in the fight against climate change we have partnered with Greenfleet. Greenfleet is the first not-for-profit forestry organisation in Australia to become an Approved Abatement Provider under the Australia Governments Greenhouse Friendly ™ initiative,” said Event Director and Clerk of Course, Ivar Stanelis.

“We look forward to working with Scouts SA to provide our rally community with the opportunity to be part of this great environmental and educational activity.”

“Sprint Auto Parts Managing Director, Chas Calandro, is also delighted with this association with Scouts SA and looks forward to the opportunity to work together to significantly reduce the rally’s carbon footprint.”

Scouts SA CEO, Dan Ryan, says, “Murray Darling Rescue is a great program now in its ninth year. We have so far planted over 1,000,000 trees in our partnership with Greenfleet, the Goolwa to Wellington LAP and now Sprint Auto Parts Rally SA, firmly establishing Murray Darling Rescue as an important initiative for the Murray and for Australia."

"It is quite powerful witnessing our youth from as young as age six, motivating their family to actively participate in a project from which all Australians will reap the benefits in adult life.  We are excited to be involved with the Rally and look forward to rally enthusiasts being able to join us at our plantings."

"The planning for the planting is well underway," he added. "The SA Skydiving Drop Zone at Langhorne Creek is the planting site and we applaud Greg Smith for donating his land for revegetation."

"The Goolwa to Wellington LAP will ensure that the maximum biodiversity outcomes are achieved through their professional site preparation.  The seedlings will be grown at Strathalbyn ready for planting in June 2010. The extensive 12 months of planning and preparation will ensure maximum outcomes from the planting."

Goolwa to Wellington LAP Project Officer, Ben Simon, said, “This planting is extremely important in transforming an environment that is currently suffering from the effects of salinity and until recently, a lack of vegetation, to a biodiverse habitat that has the potential to attract a wide range of animal and bird life, including the endangered Orange Bellied Parrot.”

Scouts SA CEO, Dan Ryan, adds, “This unique environment partnership between a collection of like minded organisations and businesses - Scouts, Sprint Auto Parts, Rally SA, Greenfleet, Goolwa to Wellington LAP, SA Skydiving and with support from the Government of SA and other corporate supporters – has successfully synergised to achieve some truly great biodiverse outcomes.”

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