Tinonee's Parkland Nursery continues the recovery process from the 2019 Mid Coast bushfire crisis.
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Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie visited owners Leah and Bernard Hunt on Tuesday, February 9 to assess the business's progress since the Hillville bushfire destroyed infrastructure and about a third of produce in November 2019.
Since this time the Hunts purchased a new potting machine, with a $75,000 bushfire recovery grant, and rebuilt sheds.
Dr Gillespie was amazed how the business has bounced back in just 15 months.
"It's like a phoenix risen from the ashes," Dr Gillespie said.
"They've re-established a massive commercial Australian native nursery courtesy of hard work, initiative and assistance from the bushfire recovery grant."
Before the bushfire crisis, the nursery was crippled by the drought.
"That was nearly worse than the bushfires because we didn't have any water,"Mrs Hunt said. "When the bushfires came, we had nothing left... until we got rain we couldn't even look about restarting."
Consistent rain throughout 2020 helped turn around the nursery's fortunes.
"We haven't stopped," Mrs Hunt said. "We've been going flat out," Mr Hunt added.
The business supplies plants to 80 Bunnings Warehouse stores across NSW. Assistance from the government, agencies, friends and family allowed the couple to focus on rebuilding the business.
Mr Hunt said a top achievement through the recovery process was keeping staff numbers intact. He previously said the installation of the potting machine was the 'turning point' for the business to resume normal production.
Dr Gillespie was shown how the machine worked and jumped on the production line to lend a hand.
This was the second time in nine months the Times has visited the farm to talk bushfire recovery. Ironically, both visits were conducted in the rain.
Dr Gillespie visited other bushfire affected areas this week to check up on community groups and businesses, see how bushfire recovery grants were used and determine what resources were still needed.