General News
20 September, 2022
New life for Phillips Gardens flora
Works to upgrade Phillips Garden’s irrigation system have been completed and will mean better water coverage and sustainability for the gardens. Completed recently, the works involved the installation of a new Hunter Hydrawise central control...
Works to upgrade Phillips Garden’s irrigation system have been completed and will mean better water coverage and sustainability for the gardens.
Completed recently, the works involved the installation of a new Hunter Hydrawise central control system, with master valve and flow meter — meaning the system is more sustainable to use and now reaches areas of the gardens which were previously not irrigated.
The project was funded by the Victorian Government’s Growing Victoria’s Botanic Gardens grants program, with the Central Goldfields Shire Council receiving $150,000 and appointing the contract to local business Stephen Dell Plumbing following a tender process.
The new system features underground sprinklers that can be controlled wirelessly through a mobile app, with the system itself allowing scheduled watering of the gardens that takes into account weather forecasts, wind speeds and times of day.
Completion of the project was finished ahead of schedule and Stephen Dell Plumbing’s Stephen Dellavedova said it was rewarding work.
“This is probably the biggest task I’ve done and it’s been good, I probably took a risk with this but it’s been worthwhile,” he said.
“The rain made it pretty testing but we were well ahead of schedule, I had a good team of subcontractors and apprentices which was a big help.”
Council’s parks and gardens team member Wayne Pritchard said the system would make a significant difference those maintaining the space.
“This system is going to save us a heap of time and we’ll be more water efficient as well,” he said.
“Some of the shrub areas were only half watered by the previous system and that was noticeable in summer, so to now have coverage is really good.”
Central Goldfields Shire councillor Geoff Lovett said it was wonderful to see investment in one of the municipalities best-loved natural assets.
“We forget the Phillips Gardens are botanical gardens dating back to the mid-19th century, and one of very few remaining in regional Victoria,” he said.
“In recent years considerable work has been undertaken at the Phillips Gardens, all of it commendable — and this irrigation project will be another step towards making it even better.
“A positive step towards ensuring it remains a popular meeting and recreational space for our local community and a must-see destination for our tourism visitors.”