Sydney Water, in conjunction with IndigiGrow and the Gamay Rangers, are proud to announce a collaboration. Together, they will help save the Five and Ten Corners plant or “bush lollies”. This range of flora is on the verge of extinction between La Perouse and North Head. It’s due to land clearing and a lack of traditional land management practices.
It’s part of a $3 million dollar vegetation and fencing upgrade to the Malabar Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF). The area contains over 35 different vegetation communities. It includes the critically endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub found over the Malabar Headland planted around the facility.
In all, five varieties of the critically endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub have been planted.
The Gamay Rangers are one of four Indigenous Ranger teams in New South Wales. They came into existence following a need to better manage the environment of their traditional land and waters around Botany Bay.
To help save the native flora, the Gamay have helped clear the land around the Malabar facility to make way for the planting of the different vegetation communities. That includes the Five and Ten Corners plants by IndigiGrow.
IndigiGrow is made up of First Nations horticultural apprentices from the La Perouse area. Led by Bidjigal man Peter Cooley, the organisation monitors the health of flora and fauna and was responsible for planting the Five Corner Plant and Banksia scrub as part of the fencing project.
The Indigenous body has been instrumental in helping save the endangered plant.
“My hope is that generations to come will be able to experience the Five and Ten Corners plant because of our efforts here today,” Mr Cooley said.
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