Page 437 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
grasses throughout Canberra’s beautiful landscapes. Yarralumla Nursery has been researching, sourcing, growing and supplying plants for the arboretum since its inception. This has involved supplying over 50,000 trees, most of which are rare and endangered.
Yarralumla Nursery is also involved in the challenging but exciting and very rewarding task of sourcing trees throughout Australia for ceremonial plantings, such as the field maple planted by Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and the New Zealand kauri planted by John Key, the Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Many of the trees planted at the arboretum are threatened species sourced from diverse climates from around the world that previously had not been grown in the ACT. This required significant research to ensure that the species would germinate, with some species taking up to 12 months with specialised treatment to break their dormancy. Working in partnership with the arboretum, Yarralumla Nursery nurtured and cared for the young seedlings until they were hardy enough to adapt to Canberra’s climate. In some cases this process took up to four years.
The plantings that Canberrans have been able to see at the arboretum are the result of years of dedication, hard work and a successful ongoing working relationship between the arboretum and Yarralumla Nursery. I congratulate the nursery on the crucial role they have played in shaping the arboretum’s landscape.
Of course, the arboretum has great potential to add particular value as a tourism venue in the ACT, especially as it matures in the years ahead. The facilities that have been built on the site are impressive, and the location of the site provides a unique view across Canberra—one that I think many Canberrans do not know well. In the old days when it was a pine forest you had to be a fairly dedicated runner or mountain biker, or perhaps a rally driver, to make it to the top of Dairy Farmers Hill and see that unique perspective down the lake. I think one of the real treasures of the arboretum is that it has opened that view up and made it much more accessible to so many more people who will really appreciate that perspective. It would be fair to say, and you can see this from the enthusiasm amongst Canberrans already, that the arboretum will become a favourite venue for interstate and international visitors, as well as Canberra locals, who I know are always on the lookout for a good picnic spot to enjoy the best of what Canberra has to offer.
We are only now beginning to understand the potential of the arboretum. We saw the kite flying festival on the weekend. Certainly I have suggested to TAMS that we think about starting a fun run at the arboretum. These are the sort of opportunities that will evolve as the space evolves and grows and people start to make the most use of it.
I would like to acknowledge the great enthusiasm, hard work and passion of the Friends of the Arboretum. I commend them for the efforts they have put in, and I hope they are enjoying seeing the fruits of their efforts become reality. Their unbounded enthusiasm for the arboretum, their volunteering to become guides at the arboretum, really is a credit to their great dedication.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video