UQ`s Centre for Native Floriculture (CNF) is helping to bolster the work being undertaken by the indigenous Community Development and Employment Project (CDEP) at St George in Western Queensland.
Indigenous community organisations are funded by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and the Torres Strait Regional Authority to run the CDEP projects in urban, regional and rural locations.
The St George based Kamillaroi CDEP group has established a native floriculture production facility with the assistance of UQ’s Gatton-based CNF and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F).
According to Ian Gordon from the Centre, the project has initially focused on growing grafted Western Australian waxflowers and several selections of plants native to Queensland. The latter were identified by members of the CNF’s Value Chain and Floriculture programs as having cut-flower and/or foliage potential. They include Backhousia myrtifolia (Cinnamon myrtle), 3 species of Dodonea (hop bush), yellow riceflower and flannel flower.
“The grafted Geraldton wax flowers have been developed by the Plant Nursery Unit at UQ Gatton for commercial sale, and are particularly suited to use in areas where Phytophthora root rot is prevalent," Mr Gordon said.
"A number of local waxflower growers in the Toowoomba and Gatton areas are using grafted waxflowers very successfully.
"Two new waxflower cultivars were made available for trialling by the Kamillaroi CDEP because the site for the flower trial has had problems with root rot on grape vines. Additional plantings of a range of focal flower types will take place in St George in early November."
The activities undertaken as part of the CDEP are designed to develop the participants’ work and employment skills. Kamillaroi CDEP participants are developing their skills via a series of demonstrations and training courses in all aspects of native flower selection, planting, establishment and harvesting.
During 2005 the group have harvested flowers from the initial trial site which have been sold to florists and supermarkets in the St George district. Following the success of the preliminary harvest the group will expand the range of flowers grown to include a selection of focal flowers which can be used in conjunction with the waxflowers to produce mixed bunches of flowers for retail sale.
The Centre for Native Floriculture was established at the UQ Gatton Campus in 2003, with financial support from the Department of State Development, Trade and Innovation and the University.
Its general brief is to maximise the economic potential of Queensland floristic resources.
The Centre also aims to minimise the impact of wildflower and foliage harvesting from Queensland’s native forests. This objective is being realised through improving cultivars, growing and handling technologies, marketing strategies, and the knowledge and skills base for successful production and sales of native cut flower, potted colour and landscape varieties from farms and nurseries.
Collaborators and researchers who work within the Centre are passionate about protecting native flora species across the state for future generations, and also about showcasing it for the current generation.
The Premier of Queensland, Peter Beattie, strongly supported the establishment of the CNF. During a visit to Israel early last year, Mr Beattie personally witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Agricultural Research Organisation of Israel. The MOU aims to foster collaborative research between workers in Queensland and in Israel.
Media inquiries: Susanne Schick - UQ Gatton Campus (5460 1229, 0409 265 587). Further information/comment: Contact Ian Gordon (CNF) (5460 1235).
