Revitalised nursery growing from the ground up

Friday, 28 August 2020

Penrith City Council is revitalising its 35 year old nursey to ensure Council is self-sufficient in plant production of local providence plants and shrubs to meet existing and future operational needs within the LGA

Council has for many years operated a nursery that supports day to day operational requirements of the City Presentation Department including supplying soil, mulch, landscape supplies and the management of fallen trees and branches. The site on Castlereagh Road, Penrith has also supported a range of typical nursery functions such as seed collection, plant propagation and growing, and the supply of plants for some Council projects.

Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM welcomed the revitalisation project saying there is number of positive outcomes from the project.

“The first outcome is to bring the nursery up to contemporary standards which is being achieved by implementing the right infrastructure, equipment and tools for its operation,” Cr Fowler said.

“From there we can improve the nursery’s capacity to produce the volume and quality of plants required to meet Council’s own requirements for our internal customers such as Sustainability, Bushcare, Major Projects and Events teams.”

Physical works that will be undertaken will include the upgrade of existing amenity facilities, installation of gravel paved work areas and potting tables, pathways, a refurbished glasshouse, improved material store, solar panels, recycled water and the undergrounding of power lines to improve safety and create more usable space.

“As the site matures, we will be able to grow capacity to provide plant giveaways and other programs to support the greening of the City,” Cr Fowler said.

Council is also exploring partnership opportunities to provide people with physical or intellectual disabilities opportunities to gain both work and life skills in a nurturing and supporting environment.

“The revitalisation of the nursery is an exciting project that has the capacity to support significant environmental change and provide opportunities for community development,” Cr Fowler said.

Penrith Council plants in excess of 99,000 trees a year through of a range of programs that includes the Living Places program (street trees planted on nature strips in suburbs that lack tree coverage), shade tree planting program for sporting ovals and playgrounds, Trees for Mum/Dad and various Bushcare initiatives.

Photo caption: (LtoR) Penrith City Council General Manager Warwick Winn, Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM and Cr Robyn Cook at Council’s nursery.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Friday, 28 August 2020.