Page 5224 - Week 12 - Thursday, 27 October 2011
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National Arboretum
(Question No 1777)
Mr Seselja asked the Minister for Economic Development, upon notice, on 20 September 2011:
(1) What are the qualifications held by the National Arboretum Curator.
(2) What are the minimum training requirements for staff engaged to work at the Arboretum.
(3) Can the Minister provide the selection process and job requirements for all positions advertised and filled at the Arboretum.
(4) What is the procurement process used at the Arboretum in relation to supplies, for example, stakes, tree guards, fertilisers and the like.
(5) Does the Arboretum receive any cash/non-financial incentives for supplies purchased, for example, pink tree guards.
Mr Barr: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) The Curator of the National Arboretum Canberra (NAC) has around 20 years horticultural and landscape construction experience in the private and public sectors and five years apprenticeship training in horticulture at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) Weston. His work experience has covered applied botany, plant propagation, soil management, irrigation, landscape construction, plant selection and culture, and involved a range of high profile projects for private and public sector clients.
(2) A copy of the selection criteria for the two fulltime positions at the NAC is attached at Attachment A.
(3) Both the Curator position and the Senior Horticulturalist position (both of which have the classification of Senior Officer Grade C) were publicly advertised and filled following competitive processes.
The Curator position (P14223) was advertised in the ACT Government Gazette on 16 October 2008 and drew a strong field of six applicants. The Senior Horticultural position (P 18233) was advertised in the ACT Government Gazette on 15 October 2009 and The Canberra Times on 17 October 2009 and also drew a strong field of seven applicants.
The selection processes, selection criteria and the interview panels were established in accordance with normal ACT Public Service procedures and processes. In addition to a range of generic criteria, both jobs required demonstrated extensive experience and knowledge of horticultural maintenance practices.
(4) The procurement of the bulk of supplies is integrated with major tree planting and maintenance contracts, which have at various times and on a regular basis been competitively tendered over the last five years in accordance with ACT procurement guidelines and regulations.
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