Creation of a native garden with budding partnership

A native, drought resistant garden will be installed at Yappala Station in the Flinders Ranges, to complement a nearby art gallery, thanks to a new partnership between SA Water and Viliwarinha Yura Aboriginal Corporation (VYAC).

As a recipient of SA Water’s 2022-23 Pirku-Itya (Reconciliation Partnerships Program), VYAC will be designing and installing the garden, allowing the vegetation time to establish, ahead of the gallery opening in late 2023.

Pirku-Itya is a Kaurna word meaning ‘for community’, with the annual program providing funding for grassroots community events and projects run by not-for-profit organisations that contribute to reconciliation in South Australia.

Yappala Art Gallery Project Director Jessica MacDonald from Yanun Project Services said the gallery will provide an opportunity for the community to sell their art to local residents and tourists, supporting them to generate self-sustaining income and provide an artistic and cultural outlet for the Kuyani and Andyamathanha people of the region.

"The current vegetation is made up of low growing native shrubs and will benefit from larger native plantings, to provide shade to visitors and privacy to the adjacent residential community," Jessica said.

Chairperson of the VYAC board Diedre McKenzie said the garden will provide privacy to the local community as well as educate visitors on the various bush tucker and medicinal plants present in the region.

"In the longer term, we hope the landscaping will provide the community with walking paths and shaded outdoor seating areas, adding to a cooler and greener environment to meet in and provide a natural environment to share culture," Deidre said.

SA Water's General Manager of Strategy, Engagement and Innovation Nicola Murphy said the garden will provide an opportunity to educate visitors about the benefits of native gardens.

"Native plants are generally more resilient and suited to local conditions than exotic species, and provide a reliable food source and valuable habitat for native wildlife,” Nicola said.

“These outcomes are what we aim to achieve at our own sites, whether it be a reservoir reserve or operational depot, so it’s fantastic to be able to partner with a group who shares similar sustainability goals. We’re committed to working with Aboriginal communities around the state to build positive outcomes and relationships, and this new partnership with VYAC is a great demonstration of reconciliation in action.”

This partnership is one of six established across South Australia as part of Pirku-Itya this year, ranging from the revitalisation of Tauondi Cultural Ground in Port Adelaide to the installation of water-wise gardening beds in the Riverland.

More information on Pirku-Itya is available at sawater.com.au.

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