General News
6 October, 2022
Arboretum open
THE iconic Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum has a new lease on life thanks to funding from the Victorian Government.
THE iconic Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum has a new lease on life thanks to funding from the Victorian Government.
Labor Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney visited the Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum last week to see the upgrades to the arboretum which were funded through the Victorian Government’s Growing Victoria’s Botanic Gardens grant program.
Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum Trust Inc received an $83,000 grant to deliver protective fencing of the arboretum, arboriculture works to heritage trees, new furniture for visitors, planting of succession trees and an assessment ofgravel paths.
Ms Tierney congratulated those involved in the project and described the day as a celebration of their work.
“The Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum is well loved by locals and visitors alike and it’s pleasing to see these new upgrades to improve visitor experience,”she said.
“The garden is a wonderful place for our community to come together and enjoy beautiful green open space – it truly is the jewel in Camperdown’s crown.”
“This investment in Victoria’s botanic gardens supports our wide-ranging efforts to conserve our precious native plants and animals.”
Ms Tierney said she looked forward to returning to the arboretum in the near future.
“We look forward to coming back to see the finished works,” she said.
“We do appreciate all of the hard work everyone has put in.”
Corangamite Shire mayor Ruth Gstrein said the arboretum and gardens were a “magnificent asset” for the district.
“It’s wonderful to have the arboretum opening up and hearing about the plans for the future,” she said.
“Everything is looking terrific.”
Cr Gstrein thanked the CamperdownBotanic Gardens and Arboretum Trust and council staff for their efforts in completingthe work.
Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum Trust president Emma Bell said she was pleased with the progress to date.
“We’ve got a perimeter fence around the entire area,” she said.
“It’s a start, we’re pretty happy withthe progress.”
Ms Bell said the trust would be planting some trees which were “rare and special”, but still suitable for the changing climate.
“We try and get things that people have read about, but not seen,” she said.
“We’re going to have some picnic tables and more accessible pathways. It’s going to be more user friendly.
“We’re also looking forward to a proper car park being made.”
The Victorian Government has invested approximately $4 million across 43 projects through the Growing Victoria’s Botanic Gardens program.
The grants allowed botanic garden managers including local governments, trusts and committees of management to rejuvenate Victoria’s botanic gardens by upgrading and enhancing the physical assets and amenities of the gardens and by growing the gardens’ important role in research, conservationand education.
Most of the gardens to receive funding in the grants program’s second round are located in rural and regional Victoria where they make a significant contribution to the localtourism industry.
Redesigned in the 1880s by William Guilfoyle, Camperdown Botanic Gardens is recognised as one of Victoria’s most significant 19th century botanic gardens and has an important collection of heritage trees.
The grants program also supports the objectives of Biodiversity 2037, the Victorian Government’s plan to stop the decline of Victoria’s native plants and animals and improve the natural environment for a healthy, sustainable future.
Victoria’s botanic gardens provide beautiful places for people to visit and relax as well as protecting plants and ecosystems and offering valuable scientific and educational opportunities.
