ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP SETTING A-PACE FOR NATIVE PLANTS IN PERTH COMMUNITIES

By Taylar Amonini One of Perth’s oldest environmental, community organisations has kicked off its annual Local Plant Subsidy Scheme for 2016 in which people can purchase native plants for their gardens at reduced prices. Tucked away in North Fremantle between the Swan River and Stirling Highway, Apace WA began operations in 1983 and provides sustainable environmental programs, like the plant subsidy scheme, for Perth communities. “It’s a great scheme for encouraging people to plant local plants in their gardens; so councils pay half the cost of the plants and a person pays the other half,” says Ann Foama, former volunteer and now employee at Apace WA. Residents of 11 Perth communities who are able to participate in the scheme include people from the council areas of Claremont, Cockburn, Cottesloe, Cambridge, Mosman Park, Fremantle, East Fremantle, Melville, Nedlands, Subiaco and Rockingham.   “We’re independent and work with heaps of local councils throughout Perth. We’re much broader than just Fremantle even though we are in Fremantle,” says Revegetation Project Manager, Cat Williams. What gives Apace WA an extra edge is that the nursery sells not just Australian native plants but Perth plants in their local forms. “It’s a niche that we’ve always occupied and so it’s quite specialised,” says Ann Foama. Apace WA helps the community by providing a plethora of information on plant care to help people with their gardening and upkeep needs. “You don’t usually find this sort of information on plant labels. We’ve got soil maps and catalogues that people can take home with them.” Apace WA also provides revegetation services, seed collection, plant propagation and organic gardening education courses. For more information on the Local Plant Subsidy Scheme and other services Apace WA provide visit www.apacewa.org.au/ or call 9336 1262.