By
Andrew Stackpool
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FSGT
David Jones and CPL Chris Skiba look at their award for
good environmental management of the Dutson Air Weapons
Rage.
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Photo by CPL Cameron Jamieson
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An
extensive controlled burn-off
on the range.
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TWO
Air Force NCOs have been recognised in the inaugural Defence environmental
and heritage awards for managing the Dutson Air Weapons Range
in Victoria.
Flight Sergeant David Jones and Corporal Chris Skiba earned the
award for “exceptional commitment and initiative in developing
ongoing procedures and continuous improvement processes for managing
the significant environmental and heritage values at Dutson Air
Weapons Range”.
FSGT Jones said the award, won by five other nominees from throughout
Defence, had come as a surprise.
“We were nominated by the southern Victorian CSIG environmental
officers,” he said.
“I didn’t think we’d even be considered, a little
out-station like this.”
The award application cited their “willingness to incorporate
environmental best practice into range activities” as the
core reason for nomination.
Dutson Air Weapons Range features a number of sensitive environmental
zones, which the two NCOs helped to protect without hampering
Air Force training.
FSGT Jones and CPL Skiba had recently organised an extensive hazard
reduction burn on the range – a regular activity to protect
the environmentally valuable areas – coordinating with local
specialists and state authorities. “It was huge,” FSGT
Jones said.
“We burnt roughly 500 hectares, had chopper support from
our rescue chopper here as well as about five brigades from [the
Country Fire Authority] actually out on the range making sure
it didn’t get out of hand and Department of Sustainability
and Environment advisors on site with us. [So] we didn’t
do it all by ourselves.”
Other initiatives by FSGT Jones and CPL Skiba included implementing
a pest identification system, extensive fence repairs to exclude
pests and explaining environmental risks to visiting personnel.
The two NCOs also developed strong relationships with local government
agencies and the local population, and participated in local environmental
studies.
“We’ve got a game reserve on each side of the range,
managed by Parks Victoria, and they usually get people from Monash
University out there to have a look at the health of the flora
and fauna.
“They’ve asked a couple of times if they could come
on to the range and have a look around, and they were quite impressed
with the difference on the bombing range compared with the two
areas off range. It’s a lot healthier [on the range], which
is good for a weapons range.”
CDF General Peter Cosgrove and Defence Secretary Ric Smith presented
the environmental and heritage awards on June 21.
Other award recipients
Commander
Ross Wendt – for his role in the development and implementation
of the Navy off-shore exercise environment management plan and
a number of other environmental initiatives.
Captain
Gavin Cooper – for developing a range of training and
guidance material to raise the environmental awareness of Army
engineers.
Biofouling
Control and Environmental Compliance Section – for developing
a replacement anti-fouling compound for use on ships’ hulls.
Fort
Direction Security Guards – for managing the environmental
values at Fort Direction, including providing improved habitat
for endangered and significant species, while ensuring the security
of the facility.
Exercise
Wing, ADF Warfare Centre – for integrating environmental
considerations into the planning processes for major exercises,
particularly Exercise Talisman Sabre ‘05.
