Yarra Valley Water has won a gold international award for its groundbreaking approach to using buffer land for community benefit and environmental sustainability.
The award acknowledges the innovative thinking and action taken by Yarra Valley Water to reimagine how it uses buffer land at its Aurora Recycled Water Treatment Plant. The otherwise unused land is being transformed into the Wollert Community Farm, a vibrant hub for community wellbeing.
The International Water Association (IWA) Project Innovation Award – Governance, Institutions and Social Enterprise Category – recognises and promotes excellence and innovation in water management, research and technology.
The award was presented at the IWA World Water Conference in Toronto, Canada.
Speaking after the event, Yarra Valley Water Senior Engineer, Place Based Planning and Resilience, Natalie Hackett, said the Project Innovation Awards recognise that shared challenges can be overcome by developing creative water solutions.
“The farm will grow food, use recycled water and demonstrate circular economy systems for the local community. It will provide volunteering, training and employment opportunities and enable First Nations-led land management of endangered grasslands as part of a caring for Country approach,” Ms Hackett said.
The farm received funding from a Victorian Government Integrated Water Management grant, a Green Links grant to support the rehabilitation of the creek, as well as Yarra Valley Water and project partner contributions.
“The Wollert Community Farm will be a place for people to connect, learn and prosper through environmental and agricultural activities. It will consist of an environmental education hub and local food system that utilises recycled water, to restore nature and ensure local people can live and eat well,” Ms Hackett said.
The water authority has partnered with Whittlesea Community Connections to deliver the Wollert Community Farm and was recognised for its innovative use of recycled water and commitment to creating a resilient local food system.
“We’re making the most of treatment plant buffer land and opportunity to provide Class A recycled water. Our 167ha site has rare remnant grasslands – part of the remaining one per cent of natural grasslands on the planet – which need active regeneration to ensure their survival,” Ms Hackett said.
The farm supports the Nugil Biik Plants and Seeds Indigenous Seedling Nursery, led by Whittlesea Community Connections, as well as educational courses in conservation, agriculture and horticulture.
It will also enable other community-led activities to begin, including growing native grass and wildflower seeds which will support revegetation of the local environment.
The farm is delivering outcomes now and permanent buildings are on track for completion in early 2025.
“In partnership with Whittlesea Community Connections, we’re already achieved significant outcomes. This includes planting 4,000 seedlings, rehabilitating Curly Sedge Creek, establishing an interim nursery, and collecting native grass and wildflower seeds,” Ms Hackett said.
“At all of our treatment plant sites we have abundant land, so there’s a great opportunity for Yarra Valley Water to step in and act as leaders supporting environment outcomes for the community.”
Whittlesea Community Connections CEO, Alex Haynes, said this partnership approach will deliver positive outcomes for the community it serves.
“This is such an exciting partnership for a place-based community organisation like Whittlesea Community Connections. Through the Wollert Community Farm, Whittlesea Community Connections and Yarra Valley Water are leveraging our individual strengths and resources to create and amplify outcomes for our growing communities and environment.”
For more information about the awards, head to the International Water Association website.
Featured image: the nursery at the Wollert community farm. Image: Yarra Valley Water.
