Nicolle Flint (Boothby, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Wittunga Botanic Gardens is one of the many reasons everyone should visit my electorate of Boothby. Set over 13 hectares, Wittunga was created by Mr Edwin Ashby in 1902 and showcases waterwise Australian native plants as well as many from South Africa. In the 1920s, Mr Ashby developed raised sandy garden beds and a unique watering system to promote drainage and replicate growing conditions he'd seen in Western Australia. At Wittunga you can find a wide range of rare plant species from Western Australia, Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula and hundreds of species of hakeas, banksias, myrtles and gums as well as many other rare native plants.

Last week, along with many wonderful local volunteers who support the gardens, I visited Wittunga to see recent upgrades, made possible thanks to $750,000 of funding from the Morrison government. The lakeside has been cleared of invasive weeds and replanted with native plants, and the lakeside walking trail and beach have been upgraded. The state minister for the environment, David Speirs, and the member for Waite, Sam Duluk, announced that Wittunga will now have extended opening hours so that families and visitors can enjoy these stunning gardens for longer each day, especially when the brand new nature play area has been built, thanks to the $750,000 of federal government funding. I know that principal Kris Robson, staff, students and families at the neighbouring Blackwood Primary School are particularly excited about this, especially as they helped design the new nature play area. Thanks to everyone involved. We can't wait to see these upgrades happen.