Demand for the aromatic lemon myrtle could prove to be the sweet smell of success for recovering drug and alcohol addicts working on a farm on the New South Wales mid north coast.

Fifteen kilometres west of the holiday destination of Coffs Harbour, the 90 hectares is now being used for the propagation of the increasingly sought-after plant.

Lemon myrtle is used in desserts as it doesn't cause dairy products to curdle. ( Supplied: )

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The indigenous plant is used in a variety of ways in both food and also for health.

The dried leaf may be mixed with tea and is often used in cheesecakes or flavouring ice-cream as unlike lemon it does not cause the desserts to curdle.

Lemon myrtle oil is sometimes used to treat skin lesions, and also as an antiseptic or in soap.

Adele House is a residential alcohol and drugs rehabilitation facility.

Many of the male residents aged from 18 have been ordered by the courts to take part in the 12- month program.

Industry growth underpins work

The lemon myrtle industry has been around for several years which farm manager and horticulturalist Sandra McLennon notes has been subject to "ups and downs."

"The demand has gone up so the industry is looking for plants. It is a difficult plant to propagate," Ms McLennon said.

"People are planting 150,000–200,000 but they still have to have the plants so we are producing the plants."

"It's getting the plants in the tubes to take in the propagation house which is the main thing."

The plants propagated at Adele House are then sold to a number of growers who nurture the plant for processing.

In the greenhouses there is row upon row of small shoots of lemon myrtle and another variety aniseed myrtle in tubes on trays.

The aniseed and lemon myrtle are tended by farm manager Sandra McLennon who works with those in rehabilitation. ( ABC Rural: Michael Cavanagh )

Blueberries started things off

Adele House is backed by the PAYCE Foundation which argues "disadvantage and misfortune should not limit an individual's potential or determine their quality of life."

The not-for-profit foundation is supported by the property development company PAYCE.

The foray into lemon myrtle follows on from the program which has resulted in blueberries being grown over the past four years being sold through the OZ group.

The body of blueberry growers including Adele House is based in the region and markets the berry.

For Adele Manager and Director Richard Allaway it is time to look at other crops.

"For us it is about diversity, with the long-term view being able to sustain eventually the rehab."

Rehabilitation success

One of those who was ordered by the courts to take part in the program is Simon Tulk, who now lives in town but is employed at the farm.

Having spent time in prison, and still being subject to a community service order, he has acquired a number of skills as part of the scheme.

He enjoys working with machinery, and his immediate task is being part of a team building a dam on the property.

"It's opened up heaps of opportunity for me to work in the construction industry," Mr Tulk said.

Now as an employee working with other residents in rehabilitation also brings home to him where he has been.

"It reminds me from where I come from so I never forget and I don't want to go back there.

"I can help the men that come in here in similar situations and talk about my experiences and what works for me."

His rehabilitation has also resulted him again being close to his family, after pushing them away during his time with drugs and prison.

Bigger facility to be built

While the facility which presently can house up to 30 men, a jointly-funded state government and PAYCE project will soon see construction of a 40 bed complex.

Unfortunately the need for more beds coincides with the increase in use of ice.

"We have always run on a three-month waiting list. So beds have always been a shortage," Mr Allaway said.

"We've certainly got far more regional Australia participants these days than we have had over the last 14 years."