News

Exciting Stage Two for Botanic Gardens

Tue, 16 Jun 2015 13:36:00

A second stage of development is underway at the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens, with plans for new infrastructure and a vision to establish the gardens as the Mildura region’s top visitor and local attraction.

The community has driven the planning, planting and development of the gardens at Mourquong during its first 25 years, and the AIBG committee is confident the momentum will continue into an exciting stage two.
“We now have an amazing and beautiful asset at Mourquong,” said AIBG president Colin Straub.  “But the most incredible part is that since that first sod was turned in 1988, it’s been almost entirely our own community energy and initiative that has driven development,” Mr Straub said.
“We are really hoping that momentum will continue now that it is time to add more infrastructure and take our gardens to the next stage of creating a truly family-friendly garden.”
Mr Straub said the gardens already has two buildings serving as a function centre and café/store, but Stage Two would focus on increasing the number of event sites to lift visitation and public use.
“A greater choice of better-serviced venues will make it much easier for people and groups to use the spaces for large and small functions,” Mr Straub said.
“That will involve some simple but really appealing initiatives like planting more shade trees and opening up established sections of the gardens to more use.  Relatively simple things like providing more and better picnic areas will encourage more families to use the site.”
But Mr Straub said one of the first priorities would be focussed more on practicality than beautification. 
“Upgrading the power supply to the gardens is one of the most critical steps we need to undertake in the short term,” he said. “The current supply is inadequate and we need to be able to do practical things, like install permanent heating at the Magenta woolshed so we can increase hiring over winter.”
The official launch of the Stage Two was held at the Mildura Arts Centre on May 26 at a function supported by local business and community leaders and sponsors, including Trentham Estate, Chalmers Wines, Zilzie Wines, the Mildura Brewery, the Mildura Chocolate Company, Murray River Salt, Tabletop Grapes, the Christie Centre and Mildura Living Magazine.
Mr Straub said the gardens were now attracting visitors from around Australia and internationally and more locals were becoming aware of what the gardens could offer.
“The Children’s Garden offers an unstructured, safe area for children to explore and investigate.  We’re thrilled that it’s growing in popularity for kindergarten and school visits because it allows children to develop imaginative and creative play skills,” he said.
“Several very large pine trees were destroyed in the garden when the storm went through last year and we are planning to replace those to create a more shaded and cool area to play.
“People are really coming to appreciate the fact that the gardens are maturing into a place of beauty, serenity and are now just a wonderful place to walk, explore or simply sit and enjoy a picnic.”
Mr Straub said a dedicated network of community supporters and volunteers had brought the Botanic Garden vision to reality.
“There are volunteers who do catering, work in the shop on weekends, prune roses, repair equipment and manage the nature trail and the financial support of other community members is critical in backing up this good work and keeping it going,” he said.
“The future of the AIBG will depend on increasing local support both financially and in-kind, so we can underpin the search for more sponsorship and philanthropic support from outside the district.
“A lot of effort and money has built these amazing gardens.  Hopefully in the next 25 years we can continue to build on that foundation work and establish a place that is renowned outside the district and that locals love and visit regularly.”