Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Leigh, Production Nursery and Horticulture Program supervisor at the Alexander Maconochie Centre
Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) detainees are helping climate-proof the region through an innovative program.
There are seven people employed in the AMC’s Production Nursery and Horticulture Program.
Together, they are working to restore endangered grassy woodlands in the Yass region.
Over the past year, they have propagated around 3,000 native plants to help the Murrumbateman Landcare Group (MLG).
Plants include eucalypts, wattles, shrubs and groundcovers. The MLG chose these varieties for their ability to withstand future climate conditions.
These were grown as seeds from both local and non-local sources to ensure genetic diversity.
They will also improve soil health on both private and public lands in the region.
The program has been running for three years at the AMC, which has commercial grow houses and stock gardens on site.
It is one of several opportunities offered to help detainees build new skills and confidence and give back to the community.
Those involved have learned various propagation techniques and have even raised species that have struggled to grow in Murrumbateman.
“The experience has also given detainees a real sense of achievement while nurturing their own personal growth. For some, these programs are more than a way to pass the time of their sentences – it can open up pathways for life after prison,” AMC Production Nursery and Horticulture Program supervisor Leigh said.
The AMC’s partnership with MLG demonstrates that rehabilitation and community engagement can go hand-in-hand, with positive results.
“This partnership is a wonderful example of how we can work together to achieve positive outcomes for both the environment and individuals involved,” MLG Committee Member Gill Hall said.
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