Victorian Government increases funding for Botanic Gardens

The Victorian Government has announced a funding increase for botanic gardens across the state, with 26 gardens to share in $2.4 million through the second round of the Growing Victoria’s Botanic Gardens Grants Program.

Launched last year and set to provide nearly $4 million over two years, most of the gardens in this round of the Program are in rural and regional Victoria where they make a significant contribution to the local tourism industry.

The grants will enable a range of upgrades including improving water supply and irrigation, climate change adaption, plant collection labelling, educational projects, new innovative garden areas and upgrades to facilities and attractions.

They include:

• $134, 354 for the Euroa Arboretum for a climate ready garden and outdoor entertainment area and visitor precinct
• $150,000 for the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden to supply and install an irrigation system for their new conservation garden.
• $117,000 for the Melton Botanic Garden Nature Play space which will focus on natural elements, utilising rocks, logs and plants to create an environment that fosters imaginative play. 
• $200,475 for construction of garden beds and installation of a recycled water irrigation system at the Bendigo Botanic Garden
• $171,000 for Botanic Gardens Australia New Zealand to develop a plant database for Victoria’s botanic gardens capturing an overview of capacity including plant numbers, species diversity and rare and threatened species
• $70,000 for the George Pentland Botanic Gardens in Frankston to complete trail connections through the west precinct of the gardens. 

The first round of grant funding in 2019 saw 17 botanic gardens share in $1.48 million for improvements and upgrades.

Commenting on the value of the state’s botanic gardens, Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio stated “Victoria’s botanic gardens improve our environment and liveability and protect our ecosystems - this funding will help to ensure they are properly maintained and continue to be a treasured part of our state.

“Our regional and rural gardens already make a significant contribution to the local tourism industry and these grants will help to further boost visitation and local economies.”

For more information and a full list of this round of grant recipients visit: forestsandreserves.vic.gov.au/grants/growing-victorias-botanic-gardens-grants-program

Image: Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden. Credit: Visit Dandenong Ranges.