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mecu's Conservation Landbank achieves two world firsts. We are the first financial institution to provide a 100% biodiversity offset for every new home construction we finance and we are the first car loan provider whose entire financed motor vehicle fleet is carbon neutral.

As part of our commitment to create a sustainable future, mecu purchased a 201 hectare property situated in Victoria's west Wimmera region called 'Minimay'. It is the first property in our Conservation Landbank.

Minimay is home to Victoria's most iconic yet endangered bird. Only about 1000 South-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoos remain, and Minimay, with its Buloke and Desert Stringybark woodlands, provides an ideal habitat for this rare creature.

There is an urgent need for private land conservation. Private bushland contains threatened plants and animals, which are often not found in public parks and reserves. Private bushland also acts as a buffer zone to our much-loved national parks system. With nearly 70 per cent of Victoria already cleared it is crucial we act now to conserve and enhance the one million hectares of unprotected bush that remains.

mecu will work with our friends Landcare and Trust for Nature to plant trees in our Landbank to offset the loss of biodiversity associated with our banking business and the greenhouse gas emissions from cars financed with our goGreen Car Loans. This will assist mecu to become carbon neutral by June 2010.

Development of the mecu Conservation Landbank is made possible by the ongoing support of mecu members who chose to bank with us.

Click to view mecu's Convervation Landbank video presentation of Minimay.