Spring time and free native plants equal the perfect gardening combo!

Published on 21 September 2026

With Spring in full swing, now is the perfect time to take advantage of council’s native plant giveaway!

The Mackay Natural Environment Centre and Sarina Native Community Garden will be throwing open their doors for residents to collect FREE native plants, chat to garden experts and find out about natural environment initiatives.

Residents just need to bring along their rates notice to claim up to four free plants each calendar year.  If you’d like additional plants, they are available for purchase via EFTPOS only for $3.

Staff and volunteers at the Mackay Natural Environment Centre work through the year to collect seeds, plant and care for saplings and make them available for the community.

In the last financial year, more than 102,000 plants were distributed by the MNEC with about 20,000 given away as part of open days and click and collect programs.

Reef Catchments purchased about 50,000 plants for their conservation work in reducing sediment runoff and restoring koala habitat along the Sarina/Eton Range.

This year, the MNEC has had great success growing philydrum lanuginsom or the Woolly Frogsmouth, a great aquatic plant that is a fabulous frog hotel that also attracts pollinators and keeps waterways healthy.

The Open Day at the MNEC will be held on Saturday, September 26 from 9am to 2pm, while Green Up Sarina will be held on Wednesday, September 30 from 9am to 1pm at the Sarina Community Native Gardens.

If you’re unable to make these times, the MNEC is open Wednesdays between 9.30am and 11.30am for click and collect, or by appointment.