News

The Australian Institute of Horticulture and the Singapore Government

Media Release 16th September 2008

The Australian Institute of Horticulture (AIH) has signed an international Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU) with the National Parks Board of Singapore. CLICK HERE for full article (pdf).

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Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 

Minister announces new TAFE horticulture centre, Cairns will be host to a new TAFE training centre for horticulture, excellent news for the Industry in North Queensland.  CLICK HERE  for the full article.

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PREMIER JOINS GARDENERS IN WELCOMING TARGET 170

The Premier Anna Bligh and ACLH Chair Donald Scotts at Cottage Gardens Nursery, East Brisbane

Premier Anna Bligh celebrated the first weekend of Target 170 at her local nursery today, stocking up on new plants for her garden in time for Spring.

Ms Bligh said for the first time in two years, South-East Queenslanders were able to use their hoses this weekend, a welcome reprieve for many households.

“Under Target 170 - or ‘High Level’ restrictions - hosing is allowed for ½ hour on the weekend, and we expect the community to take advantage of this in a water efficient way to revive their gardens,” Ms Bligh said.

“Your local nursery will be able to advise you of how to keep your gardens water efficient by selecting and planting drought tolerant plants, what mulch to use, and how best to utilise wetting agents or water crystals.

“This reprieve recognises the incredible job south-east Queenslanders have done in conserving water through the worst drought we have ever seen.

“The community has endured no hosing for two years now and their efforts, along with the recent rainfall, has seen the dams reach 40 percent.

“And with the water grid coming on line at the end of this year – we are unlikely to see restrictions like that ever again.”

Ms Bligh said residents now had an extra 30 litres per person per day under Target 170, but that  wasn’t an excuse to waste water.

It’s important to remember that one minute of hosing uses 20 litres of water. So 10 minutes of hosing would use up an entire individual’s weekly extra allowance under Target 170,” she said.

“The community has done such a superb job in reducing water use to a record low of 112 litres, recorded earlier this month.

“With such a great track record and the fact that we have such a water wise community I don’t expect water consumption figures to increase dramatically.”

High Level Restrictions allows for households to have limited hosing with a trigger or twist nozzle for just half an hour per odd numbered house on Saturdays and even numbered on Sunday, between the hours of 4:00pm and 4:30pm.
Donald Scotts the Australian Centre for Lifestyle Horticulture Chairperson and Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland Executive Officer joined the Premier in welcoming the easing of water restrictions.

Mr Scotts said that while the availability of additional water was minimal it did provide gardeners with confidence that they could work in their gardens, undertake some landscaping and help make the outside a green area.\

Plan launched for export blast off

QUEENSLAND'S booming lifestyle horticulture industry has received a timely shot in the arm with the launch of a new strategic plan that promises to boost exports and capture additional revenue for a sector valued at $1.3 Million.

As one of the State's largest primary industries, lifestyle horticulture is currently buoyed by strong domestic sales due to improved rainfall. The longer-term strategy launched by Primary Industries Minister, Tim Mulherin, is raising expectations that opportunities will be realised in several key export markets. 

Mr Mulherin said China and Singapore had shown keen interest in professional services such as training and landscaping, and there was ongoing interest in Australian native flora and foliage from Japan.

"Queensland's varied climate and biodiversity means we can supply a wide range of tropical and subtropical product all year round to these markets," he said.

"This product range is a very attractive concept for Asia, especially combined with our close proximity, strict biosecurity standards, highly skilled lifestyle horticulture professionals, and leading technology to preserve product in transit."

Mr Mulherin said recent market visits had already yielded more than $280,000 in contracts with Singapore for Queensland businesses.

"Discussions are also under way to access alternative market channels in Japan for Australian native flowers and foliage, and identify opportunities with the 2010 Asian Games in China," Mr Mulherin said.

Nursery and Garden Industry Queensland executive officer, Donald Scotts, said the export strategy was a milestone in lifestyle horticulture development as a coordinated industry.

"This strategy will help to expand the industry's export capability across its various sectors to maximise business opportunities and enhance enterprise profitability," Mr Scotts said.

"It will also help diversify the market for lifestyle horticulture products and
services and ensure we are not solely reliant on domestic markets."

Australian Horticulture
May, 2008