Water Corporation of Western Australia has announced it will use Broome’s recycled wastewater to grow native trees, in collaboration with Mamabulanjin Aboriginal Corporation.
More than 17 hectares of land near the Broome North Wastewater Treatment Plant will be used as part of the innovative trial to grow native trees to provide seeds for land restoration programs in the area.
The Water Corporation already has recycled water programs in place – treated wastewater from the Broome North Wastewater Treatment Plant is used to irrigate Rhodes grass, which is harvested for stock feed.
However, Water Corporation North West Regional Manager Rino Trolio says the trial is an exciting opportunity to expand the uses of treated wastewater for irrigation.
“This is the first time Water Corporation has trialled the use of recycled water to grow native trees, and we are pleased to be working with Mamabulanjin on a project that redefines how recycled water can be used,” he says.
Trolio explains a number of Broome’s public open spaces and the golf course are irrigated with recycled water, providing a sustainable and safe alternative to using drinking water.
CEO of Mamabulanjin Aboriginal Corporation Neil Gower says the native trees will be used to revegetate the area. Additionally, the project will provide people with valuable skills and experience to improve their career opportunities.
“Mamabulanjin has a strong background in native horticulture and building the capacity of Aboriginal traditional owners to care for country through local provenance seed collection and propagation,” Gower says.
Stage One of the project is supported by the Federal Government’s Green Army program. About 800 native trees are expected to be established in the first stage of the project which began in March, with up to 12,000 trees in total to be planted by the end of next wet season.