Thousands of Native trees have been planted in a culturally-rich river system in Boorloo / Perth's east following a successful community fight to scrap a nearby AI data centre.

Key points:

• Trillion Trees restoration of Helena River going strong

• Thousands of Native trees planted to restore wetlands

• Initiative follows renewed focus and funding after AI data centre dumped

More than 200 locals helped restore the Mandoon Bilya (Helena River) and surrounding wetlands after, a long battle to block development of the data centre - slated to be one of Australia's biggest - and its negative impact on river systems.

Plans for the hyper scale AI facility in Boorloo / Perth's east were scrapped in May, just before a state Development Assessment Panel decision, after a strong campaign led by Aboriginal leaders and community groups such as Trillion Trees.

The mass project by GreenSquare - a global private investment firm - was to be among the largest to date in Australia, standing 23 metres high, with a 120-megawatt operation running continuously via dozens of cooling units.

The successful resistance from the Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Association and Trillion Trees was enhanced days before the data centre's demise, when BNAA received $97,000 from the state Labor government to restore a key section of the river under serious pressure from weeds, erosion and fly tipping.

Such funding supported recent community planting days to further preserve Mandoon Bilya and its surrounding wetland ecosystems.

Two environmental-focused days had locals and Indigenous leaders plant trees on the Helena River corridor in Hazelmere, when the river flows in winter and surrounding landscape flourishes.

The dammed river system is critical to protecting Perth's drinking water supply, slowing water movement through the landscape and allowing ecosystems to retain moisture during warmer months.

Funding supports river park vision

BNAA said the recent funding boost directly supported its big-picture initiatives and broader vision to develop a Mandoon Bilya Riverpark for Perth's 2029 Bicentenary celebrations.

"The grant is significant and will enable weed removal, foreshore revegetation, bank stabilisation, and water quality improvements," BNAA said.

"Our recent surveys recorded turtles, gilgies, and threatened Carter's freshwater mussels here, highlighting the river's high conservation value.

"Mandoon Bilya can now remain a significant freshwater ecosystem, with big potential for restoration and community connection."

BNAA's new team of Rangers matched the $97,000 grant, working with community to restore the river.

"The restoration is directly next to where GreenSquare wanted to build the hyperscale data centre... 40m from the river and a conservation wetland, and on two Aboriginal heritage sites," BNAA said.

Data centre behemoths had to be built in industrial areas, not on river floodplains, wetlands or Aboriginal heritage sites.

"It was a direct risk to our work and the long-term restoration of this important urban landscape."

Noongar waterways not 'just creeks'

Noongar Kaartdijin Aboriginal Corporation - which also fought the AI centre project - said the funding recognised the cultural significance of Noongar waterways and broader ecological areas.

"Too often waterways ... like Mandoon Bilya ... are dismissed as 'just creeks'," NKAC said.

"But these are living systems that change across the seasons, carrying and supporting life in many forms.

"They sustain turtles, gilgies, birds, frogs, fish, wetlands, floodplains, and deep Noongar connection to Country."

Trillion Trees ecological restoration manager Doug Laurie said community engagement with planting was vital to restoring biodiversity and reconnecting people with nature.

"Winter is when the Helena River comes alive, and these planting days give the community an opportunity to directly contribute to restoring one of Perth's most significant waterways," Mr Laurie said.

"Planting native trees, sedges and rushes along the river corridor help rebuild habitat for wildlife, improve ecosystem health and create more resilient landscapes for the future."

Trillion Trees said anyone could support its Helena River appeal, with funding contributions enabling the planting of thousands of additional Native trees and plants along the river over winter.

The organisations - established in 1979 - is one of WA's oldest volunteer-led environmental organisations, and has planted more than 15 million trees since inception.