Yarralumla Nursery is set to get a $690,000 facelift. Photo: TCCS.
After more than a century and 50 million trees, the Yarralumla Nursery has become a Canberra staple that has helped shape the iconic Parliamentary Triangle, Glebe and Weston Parks, and countless Canberra streets.
Now, the landmark nursery is set to receive $690,000 for safety improvements and the restoration of aged and unsafe heritage buildings, including a renowned 1930s glasshouse.
“The historic Yarralumla Nursery continues to make a substantial contributed to our city’s green, tree-lined streets, gardens and parks,” Minister for City Services Chris Steel said.
“The upgrades will provide a safer working environment for staff members, and for customers to the nursery, while still preserving the heritage values of one of Canberra’s oldest establishments.”
The nursery’s bird net structure, which protects trees from birds and hail damage, will be replaced after sustaining damage from storms last September, while the benches in six of the glasshouses will be also be replaced.
The nursery supplies an estimated 300,000 plants for people in the region each year, Mr Steel said.
“Up to 100 different species will be grown at the nursery including a diverse range of maples, oaks, eucalypts, bottlebrush, crepe myrtle and ornamental pears to balance and diversify the urban forest with a range of tree species,” he said.
“Having locally grown and specially selected varieties will help ensure they are able to withstand our Canberra climate and will assist in keeping our streets cool during summer.”
The announcement comes ahead of the 2020 ACT election where the environment has become a key battleground after the Canberra Liberals pledged to plant one million trees over the next decade.
The ACT Government countered with the release of its draft Urban Forest Strategy which will plant 450,000 trees – including 25,000 by 2023 – and increase the Territory’s canopy cover to 30 per cent in the next 25 years.
The Greens have also unveiled two environment packages, worth more than $80 million.
An extra four staff members have been employed at the nursery to help with plant maintenance since July as a part of the Jobs for Canberrans program.
For more information on the Yarralumla Nursery visit City Services.
To provide feedback on the draft Urban Forest Strategy visit YourSay. Consultation on the strategy has been extended until 10 September.
Loading ...
