I am a convert. I have riden through the arboretum a could of times on my pushy. Give it a couple of years this will be a great public space. The areas to the north of the entrance, closer to the cork plantation are starting to establish themselves and it looks great.

Institute said :

I am a convert. I have riden through the arboretum a could of times on my pushy. Give it a couple of years this will be a great public space. The areas to the north of the entrance, closer to the cork plantation are starting to establish themselves and it looks great.

Institute said :

I am a convert. I have riden through the arboretum a could of times on my pushy. Give it a couple of years this will be a great public space. The areas to the north of the entrance, closer to the cork plantation are starting to establish themselves and it looks great.

What did you convert from then?
The place looks nothing like an aboretum – more like a structured exotic tree plantation theme park which is what one would expect given the input of the bureaucrats that made it their pet project. When a lot of the trees start to seed they will be massacred by native white cockatoos and assorted parrots. Before they get to that stage however the feral hares will have to be prevented from ringbarking them as saplings. It is fortunate that we are having a mild summer. Anyone out there have any idea how many millions of dollars have been spent there already?

For real fungus? A structured exotic tree plantation theme park? That sounds sweet! I’d call it ‘Floraworld’. Hope it has bumper cars, coasters and those things that take you up real slow and then drop you. I’m not sure what they’re called, but they’re cool.

Too bad it’ll never happen. I’m sure there’s no way to stop those cockies from the impending ‘massacre’. I’ve heard feral hares are also unstoppable. Some of the most cunning animals on the planet. Thank god the mild summer has impeded their advance.

Oh, and the millions…it’s either ‘several’ or ‘many’. I forget.

dungfungus said :

Anyone out there have any idea how many millions of dollars have been spent there already?

Who cares?

At least I’ll have a place to feed my elephant.

Jethro said :

dungfungus said :

Anyone out there have any idea how many millions of dollars have been spent there already?

Who cares?

At least I’ll have a place to feed my elephant.

Aaah, Stampy, he’s got quite the apetite too, he’ll love it out there.

Does anyone know if there will be trees for sale to the public at the arbra…abrorrrrtre…tree park?

My backyard is in direct competition and I’d like a couple more exotics. Its looking brilliant too btw. =-)

dungfungus said :

…
The place looks nothing like an aboretum – more like a structured exotic tree plantation theme park
…

Erm… I think this is a contradiction in terms. “structured exotic tree plantation theme park” would be how I’d define “arboretum”.

At the risk of setting the cat amongst the elephants, have you noticed that there’s another arboretum (Lindsay Prior) just over the road from it?

Personally I can’t get enough trees! I’m for both of the arboreta.

.. Oh and thanks for the awesome photo, Maureen!

I cant wait for the sequoias to reach 100m

Fungus – I am no expert. My understanding is that arboretum means “a plantation of trees”, so to me, that’s exactly what it is.

My comment wasn’t aiming to address the value, or correctness of the government’s decision. Was just saying, that I now think it is a good use of the land and in coming years will be a great outdoor space. Available for enjoyment by all.

Do we have hare’s in Australia? I thought we only had rabbits?

Canberra has a rapidly growing hair population

The Stage 5 plans look like a hotel will be built out there when the trees get a bit bigger. Would be a nice place to stay once its all built up.

Institute said :

Fungus – I am no expert. My understanding is that arboretum means “a plantation of trees”, so to me, that’s exactly what it is.

My comment wasn’t aiming to address the value, or correctness of the government’s decision. Was just saying, that I now think it is a good use of the land and in coming years will be a great outdoor space. Available for enjoyment by all.

Do we have hare’s in Australia? I thought we only had rabbits?

Yes, we have Hare’s. They populate mainly 100-200 km from the coast but can range quite far inland too. I have shot plenty of rabbits but never any Hare’s, I just reckon they are cool.

Bramina said :

I cant wait for the sequoias to reach 100m

Don’t hold your breath waiting.
The sequoias at Pialligo were planted almost 100 years ago and the ones that have survived so far have reached about 30 metres. There are few sequoias in North America that have exceeded 100m. The prevailing climate in Canberra is too dry for sequoias. They are also attract destructive Carpenter Ants which are well established in Canberra.

Captain RAAF said :

Institute said :

Fungus – I am no expert. My understanding is that arboretum means “a plantation of trees”, so to me, that’s exactly what it is.

My comment wasn’t aiming to address the value, or correctness of the government’s decision. Was just saying, that I now think it is a good use of the land and in coming years will be a great outdoor space. Available for enjoyment by all.

Do we have hare’s in Australia? I thought we only had rabbits?

Yes, we have Hare’s. They populate mainly 100-200 km from the coast but can range quite far inland too. I have shot plenty of rabbits but never any Hare’s, I just reckon they are cool.

Ive seen Hares recently here. I saw one near the Hyatt and a couple of others while riding around the lake. Heaps of Rabbits to.

john87_no1 said :

The Stage 5 plans look like a hotel will be built out there when the trees get a bit bigger. Would be a nice place to stay once its all built up.

Why would anyone build a hotel out there? I hope the ACT Government isn’t planning to fund this venture – they have appalling commercial judgement. This being an election year I suggest that full details be tabled now.

The biggest trees are the mountain ash in Vic and possibly some in Tas. They are bigger than California redwood but take several hundred years to grow.

johnboy said :

Canberra has a rapidly growing hair population

Good one JB – I think everyone else missed it – they are too busy rabbiting on about definitions of aboretums.

Captain RAAF said :

Yes, we have Hare’s. They populate mainly 100-200 km from the coast but can range quite far inland too. I have shot plenty of rabbits but never any Hare’s, I just reckon they are cool.

Hare’s what?

dungfungus said :

johnboy said :

Canberra has a rapidly growing hair population

Good one JB – I think everyone else missed it – they are too busy rabbiting on about definitions of aboretums.

Or people felt it wasn’t necessary to gloat about it.

shauno said :

The biggest trees are the mountain ash in Vic and possibly some in Tas. They are bigger than California redwood but take several hundred years to grow.

Some Mountain Ash in Victoria have been documented as being 350 metres tall. They are hardwoods and grow a lot faster than the North American redwoods which are softwoods. There is a good Mountain Ash specimen in Tasmania called The Big Tree; it’s near Burnie and you can drive up to 100 metres from it.

shauno said :

dungfungus said :

johnboy said :

Canberra has a rapidly growing hair population

Good one JB – I think everyone else missed it – they are too busy rabbiting on about definitions of aboretums.

Or people felt it wasn’t necessary to gloat about it.

Yeah, there are plenty of these on this blog.

dungfungus said :

shauno said :

dungfungus said :

johnboy said :

Canberra has a rapidly growing hair population

Good one JB – I think everyone else missed it – they are too busy rabbiting on about definitions of aboretums.

Or people felt it wasn’t necessary to gloat about it.

Yeah, there are plenty of these on this blog.

But JB is right i have seen alot more Hares around.

Ben_Dover said :

Hare’s what?

Hare’s to you!

dungfungus said :

john87_no1 said :

The Stage 5 plans look like a hotel will be built out there when the trees get a bit bigger. Would be a nice place to stay once its all built up.

Why would anyone build a hotel out there? I hope the ACT Government isn’t planning to fund this venture – they have appalling commercial judgement. This being an election year I suggest that full details be tabled now.

I think its a good plan. New ideas dont need to be scary Fungus! Have a look at the site plan below:

http://www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/plantings

Great, I’ll be visiting section 16 for a Christmas tree every year!

dungfungus said :

shauno said :

The biggest trees are the mountain ash in Vic and possibly some in Tas. They are bigger than California redwood but take several hundred years to grow.

Some Mountain Ash in Victoria have been documented as being 350 metres tall. They are hardwoods and grow a lot faster than the North American redwoods which are softwoods. There is a good Mountain Ash specimen in Tasmania called The Big Tree; it’s near Burnie and you can drive up to 100 metres from it.

Talk about lies, damn lies and statistics! Tallest Australian tree was 350 feet tall, not metres Dungfungus!! A tree as tall as centrepoint tower would sure be a sight to behold.

Anyway tallest oz tree now is approx 93m compared w 110m for redwoods and douglas firs not far behind. N Americans were far more successful in protecting their bigget trees than australians

I can’t wait, in twenty years time I’ll be wandering about there saying in a loud voice; “Eeh, I can remember when all of this weren’t trees!”

M0les said :

.. Oh and thanks for the awesome photo, Maureen!

Thanks for noticing.

yellowsnow said :

dungfungus said :

shauno said :

The biggest trees are the mountain ash in Vic and possibly some in Tas. They are bigger than California redwood but take several hundred years to grow.

Some Mountain Ash in Victoria have been documented as being 350 metres tall. They are hardwoods and grow a lot faster than the North American redwoods which are softwoods. There is a good Mountain Ash specimen in Tasmania called The Big Tree; it’s near Burnie and you can drive up to 100 metres from it.

Talk about lies, damn lies and statistics! Tallest Australian tree was 350 feet tall, not metres Dungfungus!! A tree as tall as centrepoint tower would sure be a sight to behold.

Anyway tallest oz tree now is approx 93m compared w 110m for redwoods and douglas firs not far behind. N Americans were far more successful in protecting their bigget trees than australians

Yes, you’re right – I’ve just gone and measured it again with the correct tape measure. It’s 350 feet, not metres. (Shoud have gone to SpecSavers)

Institute said :

Fungus – I am no expert. My understanding is that arboretum means “a plantation of trees”, so to me, that’s exactly what it is.

My comment wasn’t aiming to address the value, or correctness of the government’s decision. Was just saying, that I now think it is a good use of the land and in coming years will be a great outdoor space. Available for enjoyment by all.

Do we have hare’s in Australia? I thought we only had rabbits?

When a cafe, theatre and hotel are added it no longer remains an arboretum. Where was the community input into this project which has been underwritten by the ACT ratepayers for the aggrandisement of only two people?