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Cameron’s Nursery is a specialist wholesale nursery based in Arcadia NSW, in the Sydney Hills District.
Nursery & Garden Industry of Australia National Environment Award 2016
Cameron’s Nursery was warmly praised while picking up the National award for Best Environment for the second time in a row for its outstanding commitment to environmentally sustainable practices and unique community outreach projects. Presented by Nursery & Garden Industry Australia in Adelaide in February 2016, the Awards recognise and reward excellence within the industry and acknowledge leaders as they strive to achieve best business practice.
Cameron’s Nursery features on Gardening Australia on the 7th November 2015
The ABC Gardening Australia show filmed at Cameron’s Nursery with the host Costa Georgiadis interested in many aspects of the production of plants and the environmental endeavours of the business. The filming showcases the many sustainable initiatives that Cameron’s Nursery has on site after winning many water and environmental awards. Costa was also interested in several plants which are bees attracting, propagation of plants and seeing the potting machine in action.
ABC Rural NSW for ABC Country Hour
Cutting water consumption in a Sydney Hills nursery takes years of planning and experimentation
Cameron’s Nursery has been working with the NSW Department of Primary Industries for several years, trialling new systems to capture, clean and recycle water around their two hectare property. During the millennium drought the nursery actually ran out of water, which prompted them to move location and start from scratch to build something unique in the nursery sector.
Owner Sonja Cameron said the nursery now captured every drop of water and recycles the lot. She said it took years of experimentation to develop the system.
“Underneath is a hard base, you can’t have any dips or hollows or any rocks,” she said. “Then we layer the black plastic on top which seals the ground and enables us to capture every drop. Then we put a geo-fabric through [which] becomes a wet mat and that’s where the plants draw the water up from. The weed map on top is just a protector for the geo-fabric and for the plants to sit on.”
She said water use has been reduced from 25 megalitres to just five which she attributes to the use of drip irrigation systems instead of sprinklers and water monitoring to identify waste. The system includes some unique features that were custom built, including a flocking unit. “It takes out all the clay particles, anything that’s floating, then the flocculent is injected into the water.
Audio: Cameron’s Nursery cuts water consumption by 75%. Click arrow below
“The flock particles, which are like a snow flake, sink to the bottom and the clear water rises to the top and we shandy that off.” The filtering system is essential when distributing water through drip irrigation systems and Sonja Cameron is proud of the fact that it does not require harsh chemicals to clean the water. “We also use a slow media filter which is full of [rock wool]. It slowly brings the water from the top all the way to the bottom. Natural bacteria builds up and that kills off any bad bacteria or pathogens.”
She said these systems had been documented and accredited and could save the industry a lot of water and money. She said she wanted to protect the land for future generations. “We’re not going to be the last people working on this site and we have no right to pollute it.”
Cameron’s have just received the Nursery and Garden Industry of Australia national environment award.
National Nursery and Garden Industry Awards 2015 – Environment Award
The NGIA Environment Award recognises National businesses that demonstrate leadership and commitment to environmental management, sustainability and community participation in environmental issues. It is open to all industry operators.
Camerons Nursery won the Environment Award at the National Awards night held at Fenix Restaurant and Events, Melbourne in March 2015
United Nations World Environment Day Awards 2013
Winners of the 2013 World Environment Day Awards were announced at the Awards Presentation Dinner on Friday 7 June 2013 at the Park Hyatt Melbourne.
Cameron’s Nursery won the Excellence in Sustainable Water Management Award for their ‘Reduce, Recycle, Reuse Water Saving Project’
Cameron’s Nursery has proudly won the following awards:-
- NSW Green Globe Award in the Category of Water 2011
- Save Water Award for Small Business in 2012
- Save Water Prime Ministers Award for saving potable water Finalists in 2012.
- The United Nations World Environment Day Award for Water Sustainability 2013
- NGINA NSW Environment Award 2013 & 2014
- NGIA National Environmental Award 2015 & 2016