Growing nursery considers shop sales by LUKE MORTIMER WUJAL Wujal community nursery is on the grow with two new leaders and five workers joining the team. It comes as community surveys have shown strong interest in the production of taro, chillies and capsicums, as well as the installation of a commercial-size cool room to store produce ahead of market days and potential sales to local shops. The community has also given the tick to growing native seedlings to help rejuvenate the banks of the Bloomfield River, which was left bare after flooding from Cyclone Jasper in late 2023. It’s expected seedlings from the Community Owned Enterprisesbacked nursery could be sold to organisations replanting on the banks. Last year, the nursery was reinvigorated through COE’s Pride of Place and Skilling Queenslanders for Work project and momentum keeps on building. The new roles at the nursery came to be amid a partnership with Community Owned Enterprises (COE) and RACQ Foundation, and thanks to the Commonwealth’s Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) program. Project mentor and Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire councillor Lucas Creek as well as supervisor Eric
Some of the team at Wujal Wujal community nursery. Photo: Supplied.
Upite have started alongside the five local nursery workers. Mr Creek said the seed had been planted for the nursery to grow into a sustainable enterprise, providing ongoing jobs and community wealth through the remainder of the three-year RJED project. “This project aims to grow a viable local enterprise right here in
Wujal Wujal for the people of Wujal Wujal” he said. “If we can grow produce that our community need and want not only will selling it give us cheap fresh fruit and veg, but it can also help with food security and costs of living. “Collecting native seeds and growing local trees and plants for our council, and eventually for
others around the area, is also a huge opportunity. “It makes use of our cultural knowledge: what grows best where, where to find the strongest seeds for those plants and where they will fit best into revegetation projects, and there’s no shortage of them [projects] in a cyclone prone region.” The nursery has been tidied up
since late last year and the team has already been planting various fruits and vegetables. The first batch of produce was on display at the Community Easter Fun Day held during the first week of the recent school holidays. Attendees discussed the nursery’s future and were treated to a free barbecue, while children enjoyed an Easter egg hunt.
Amrun Dredging Activities May – July 2026
Rio Tinto Weipa will be undertaking capital dredging at the Amrun Port from early May 2026 until late July 2026. Dredge vessels have restricted manoeuvring capability. An exclusion zone applies for all boats operating within the vicinity of dredging activities. Please take care and notice of all warning flags and lights. Dredging is being carried out to create an additional berth pocket, and deepen and widen the Amrun Port departure channel and existing berth pocket. Environmental controls and management measures will be implemented throughout the program to minimise the risk of any potential impact on the marine environment.
Exclusion Zone
Dredging Area
Amrun
For more information, please contact: Kangwinan@riotinto.com 1800 820 711 Riotinto.com
Kangwinan Tuesday, May 5, 2026 – Cape York Weekly – Page 11