The Allan Labor Government has made it easier to conduct land restoration works across Victoria's Volcanic Plains through the expansion of the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation native plant nursery.
The Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation's nursery expansion project has now been completed, thanks to the Labor Government's BushBank program.
A $500,000 grant from BushBank helped fund construction of a redeveloped and purpose-built native plant nursery, with greater capacity to propagate, store and grow native plants in specialist conditions and increase tubestock production from 4,000 to 80,000 plants.
The expanded nursery includes a new greenhouse, a polytunnel, and a shade house to protect sensitive plants from direct sunlight and harsh environmental conditions.
Located on Wadawurrung Country in the state's west, the expanded nursery provides Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation greater capacity to supply native plants, directly supporting environmental groups working to restore and regenerate landscapes across the region.
The Victorian Volcanic Plains which cover much of Wadawurrung Country support nationally numerous threatened species and several endangered and vulnerable vegetation communities. The volcanic grasslands are also of great significance for First Peoples.
The redevelopment is now better equipped to tackle native biodiversity loss and its ripple effects on climate change, and is supporting First Peoples to practice self-determination, participate in healing Country, and participate in carbon markets.
The nursery expansion represents a major step forward for the shared objectives of the BushBank program and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation to achieve greater environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation and Caring for Country.
The $77 million BushBank program funds projects across Victoria that assist revegetation of land to reduce carbon emissions and create habitat for some of Victoria's most iconic species.
As stated by Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos
"By expanding the nursery, the team will be able to show traditional and modern approaches to plant propagation and share knowledge to help restore precious habitat across Victoria's Volcanic Plains."
"The expansion will deliver even greater benefits for our environment and strengthen our progress toward self-determination and long-term sustainability."
