The Hawkesbury will play a part in bringing the state's wilderness back to life after the devastating 2019-20 bushfires.
Hawkesbury Community Nursery at Mulgrave has been chosen as one of three recipients of a Busfire Nursery grant, made available by the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife [FNPW], the charity partner of Australia's National Parks.
The grant will go to expanding the Mulgrave nursery's capacity to 45,000 trees, which will serve as a major step in supporting the recovery of Wollemi National Park and the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
It is estimated that 80 per cent of the area was destroyed by the fires.
FNPW, in partnership with global non-profit group, One Tree Planted, and French beauty brand, L'OCCITANE, share a mission of planting one million trees over the next five years.
The local funding will also be used to provide leveling and drainage to the expanded area, nursery benches, water supply tanks, a plant trailer and other essentials necessary for long-term productivity.
Hawkesbury Mayor Patrick Conolly visited the site on Tuesday, along with representatives from FNPW and One Tree Planted.
"Our local area has experienced first-hand the effects of the bushfires and fortunately, we have a well-developed volunteer program to support the regeneration of our local flora and fauna," Councillor Conolly said.
"This grant will see us widen our scope beyond the Hawkesbury region to offer even more support as our country regenerates."
The Mulgrave nursery currently produces around 20-30,000 native plants and supplies these to numerous revegetation and restoration projects.
Trees that will be grown there include Forest Red Gum, Grey gum, Black She-oak and Mountain Blue gum to support threatened species such as the koala, yellow-bellied glider and glossy black cockatoo.
FNPW Chief Executive Ian Darbyshire said Hawkesbury Community Nursery would play a vital role in helping to restore the national ecosystem.
"Tree planting is essential for the regeneration of our future and plays a vital role in restoring natural habitats, native vegetation and wildlife rehabilitation efforts across Australia," he said.
FNPW also awarded grant funding to Greening Australia in Canberra, and Yankalilla Community Nursery in South Australia.
Trees will be planted in national parks across the country, as well as other public and private lands affected by bushfires.
For more details on FNPW's projects visit fnpw.org.au
