Culturally significant gumbi gumbi plants have been relocated from the Boulder Creek Wind Farm project site to a new native garden on Darumbal Country.
The translocation brought together cultural heritage protection and renewable energy development through a partnership involving Darumbal Land and Sea Rangers and the Boulder Creek Wind Farm project.
The new garden has been established at the Darumbal office in Gracemere.
It includes five gumbi gumbi trees along with other native species such as Brachychiton, also known as the Queensland bottle tree, and orchids.
The relocation is as a way to ensure culturally and environmentally significant plants could continue to survive on Country.
Senior Ranger Roeina Edmund said the work allowed the plants to remain connected to Darumbal land.
"This important work has given these culturally and environmentally significant plants the opportunity to continue thriving on Darumbal Country," she said.
"The gumbi gumbi in particular holds strong cultural significance for the Darumbal People. It has long been recognised as a valuable source of bush medicine and is traditionally known for its healing properties, including anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial uses."
The garden is intended to support cultural education and ongoing care for Country.
Ms Edmund said the plants would play a role in passing knowledge on to future generations.
"These trees will become part of our native garden, where they will play an important role in cultural education, sharing knowledge with community and visitors, and supporting future native seed collection to care for Country into the next generations," she said.
"We are grateful for the respectful approach shown by CS Energy and Aula Energy's Boulder Creek Wind Farm project, and for the opportunity to work together to look after Country."
The relocation process was guided by Darumbal Cultural Heritage Monitors and Rangers working alongside the project team.
Cultural Heritage Advisor Fiona McKeague said Darumbal people led the identification and assessment of the plants.
"Darumbal Cultural Heritage Monitors and Rangers identified the plants and explained their cultural significance," Ms McKeague said.
"When we understood the cultural significance of the trees, we wanted to give them the best chance to survive."
She said the outcome reflected a collaborative approach grounded in respect.
"This effort was about respect and collaboration. Seeing the gumbi gumbi trees in their new garden shows what can be achieved when we listen and work together with respect," Ms McKeague said.
The translocation involved Boulder Creek Wind Farm, Darumbal Cultural Heritage Monitors and Darumbal Land and Sea Rangers, with specialist contractors Australian Natives carrying out the physical relocation of the plants.
Rangers trained in plant identification are now responsible for caring for the garden.
A plaque is being prepared to mark the garden's connection to the Boulder Creek Wind Farm and document the story of the relocated trees.
Boulder Creek Wind Farm has agreements with both the Darumbal People and the Gaangalu Nation People.
The project also worked with Gangulu people to relocate gumbi gumbi trees identified by Gangulu monitors to a safe area within the project footprint, keeping the trees connected to Gangulu Country.
