Jessica Micallef
Macedon Ranges council has been awarded $180,000 to upgrade two botanic gardens in the region.
The council has received a $130,000 grant to install an automatic recycled water irrigation system at the Gisborne Botanic Gardens, to help delver more sustainable use of water within the gardens.
The grant will also finance expansion of the garden’s living collection to include indigenous and exotic plants.
A grant of $50,000 has also been awarded to upgrade the manual irrigation system to an automatic system at the Malmsbury Botanic Garden.
The upgrade will provide a more effective water supply for the garden’s trees and plant collections, maintain and improve plant health and assist in future-proofing the garden.
The grants form part of the state government’s $2.4 million second round of the Growing Victoria’s Botanic Gardens Grants Program.
The program launched in 2020 and will provide nearly $4 million over two years.
Most of the gardens funded through the program are in rural or regional Victoria and contribute to the local tourism industry.
Minister for Energy, Environment an Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said the funding will help to ensure the state’s botanic gardens are properly maintained and continue to be a treasured part of the state.
“Victoria is the garden state and this funding will help us continue to enjoy that reputation,” she said.
