Member Profile - Norwood Industries
Norwood industries is a household name not only with growers and retailers in the horticultural industry but gardeners of every kind who have come in contact with plant labels across Australia. It is Norwood who are behind the thousands of plant labels that can be found with our plants.
Norwood is a 3rd generation family printing business that was established by the Eason family in 1960.
Latest Entry Requirements For Green Snail Hosts Material Into South Australia
South Australia (SA) have informed the Department of Agriculture and Food of changes to entry requirements for Green snail (Cantareus apertus) host material from Western Australia which will come into effect from 14 March 2017.
Biosecurity SA has designated the entire state of Western Australia (WA) a risk zone for Green snail.
Fairwork Commission Announces Changes to Penalty Rates
Last week, the Fair Work Commission handed down a decision to vary certain penalty rates in some hospitality and retail modern awards. The decision affects penalty rates for working on public holidays and weekends for both permanent and casual employees in these sectors. It also affects the times that penalty rates apply for working late nights or early mornings in the Restaurant and Fast Food awards.
Fertiliser Wise Fertiliser Training
The Fertilise Wise Fertiliser Training program is an initiative of the Phosphorus Awareness Project. The training is delivered by John Forrest from South Metropolitan TAFE and aims to train turf managers and local government officers in fertiliser best management practices, specific to Perth. The course is highly subsidised at $100 (normal cost over $300) and consists of 8 hours of practical training. Turf managers and local government officers will on completion of the course have a fertiliser management plan for areas under their control. To register contact Amy Krupa on 9458 5664 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Biosecurity Pays Off For Pohlmans Nursery
When Queensland-based nursery Pohlmans started looking at ways to improve pest, disease and weed management, they never expected the results would include a saving of around $350,000 per year by becoming BioSecure HACCP certified.
Please find attached a case study featuring Pohlmans Growing & Production Manager, Chris Johnson, who explains how BioSecure HACCP allowed the business to better manage their biosecurity requirements and streamline access to interstate trade.
Pohlmans is the largest independently-owned plant producer and production nursery in the Southern Hemisphere. It covers 150 acres in the Lockyer Valley, with 50 acres of intensive state-of-the-art production facilities.
Ensure You Are Bushfire Ready This Summer
The Yarloop fire anniversary is a timely reminder that we are all at risk of losing property (and lives) during these bushfire prone months. As business owners it is your responsibility to understand your local risks, prepare your business and your employees, identify your triggers to act, understand how to inform customers and undertake proper emergency planning.
Member Profile - Guildford Town Garden Centre
Situated in the heart of bustling Guildford town is the award-winning Guildford Town Garden Centre and long standing member of NGIWA.
Previously a local garage, this site has been transformed over the last 20 years under the supreme guidance of owner Joanne Harris into one of WA’s best garden centres and today provides visitors with more than just an array of plants to select from but a real experience with a wide selection of beautiful gifts and outdoor furniture and artwork.
If plants are what you are looking for, Guildford Town Garden Centre has it all; from exotics, cottage perennials, succulents, natives, annuals to one of the best selections of fruit and ornamental trees in Perth. In fact, customers travel from far and wide to make their purchases as the plant variety is so varied.
Growing Australia’s $1.13 Billion Nursery Industry
Australia’s $1.13 billion production nursery sector makes up over a tenth of the nation’s entire horticulture sector, according to a report recently released by Horticulture Innovation Australia Ltd. Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook 2014-15 brings together data on production; international trade; processing volumes; and fresh market distribution for Australia’s 74 key horticultural industries.
NEW MEMBER: Tim Eva's Nursery
Tim Eva's Nursery specialises in advanced trees, unusual plant varieties and special requests. Just 10 minutes from Midland Town, Tim Eva's is situated amongst 30 acres of Hills pasture along Toodyay Road.
Meeting The Minister
NGIWA CEO, Matthew Lunn had a meeting with the Hon. Albert Jacob (Minister For Environment & Heritage) last month where he discussed our Association, the value of accreditation within the industry and the 202020 Vision program.
NextGen Tour of Aquaponics WA
NGIWA NextGenners were treated to a special morning with a guided tour of Hydroponic Xpress and Aquaponics WA hosted by Neville Passmore and owner Delia Van Aurich this week. Hydroponic Xpress is Perth's largest hydroponic shop and aquaponic warehouse and display centre. Neville showed the group not only the value in this method of growing plants, but emphasised as as urban spaces, water availability and lifestyles were ever changing, then hydroponics were the way of the future for living a more sustainable lifestyle.
UPDATE: Tomato Potato Psyllid
Surveillance by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) has confirmed further detections of the tomato potato psyllid in the Perth area. New detections of the insect pest include commercial and backyard vegetable crops, a commercial nursery, and on seedlings at three retail outlets.
The department has moved quickly to restrict the movement of the host plants and any associated material, such as horticultural equipment, from the premises. Department Chief Plant Biosecurity Officer John van Schagen said the department was tracing the recent movement of seedlings as a priority. Tomato potato psyllid is an emergency plant pest, impacting Solanaceae plants including potato, tomato, eggplant, capsicum, chilli and tamarillos. It also attacks sweet potato.
Employment Opportunity - Propagation Manager (Plantrite)
Due to our continued growth we are looking to enhance our management team with the appointment of a Propagation Manager. Our client is a family owned nursery, specialising in the propagation and production of quality plants for the landscape and revegetation industries. Working in this key position you will manage the daily production of plants from seed, cutting, grafting and tissue culture deflasking to achieve monthly production targets. Job description is attached.
For further information please call Laura Crowe at Hudson on 9323 0274.
Biosecurity Alert - Tomato Potato Psyllid
The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) is undertaking surveillance in commercial crops and backyard gardens in the Perth area, following the suspect detection of tomato potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli).
The tomato potato psyllid can significantly impact production, attacking a range of plants in the Solanaceae family including potato, tomato, eggplant, capsicum and chilli.
It has been detected in a commercial property north of Perth, a backyard vegetable patch in Belmont and backyard tomatoes in two properties in Mount Hawthorn.
The impacted properties have been quarantined, and the movement of host material (plant and vegetable) from these properties has been restricted.
DNA barcoding is underway to determine the exact species of the pest. The results are expected this week.
Member Profile - Men Of The Trees (Hazelmere)
The St Barbe Grove Nursery, located in Hazelmere, is the headquarters of Men of The Trees in Western Australia. The nursery was established in 1987 to support the mission of bringing people together to plant and grow trees, and in doing so achieve healthy, productive and sustainable landscapes. MOTT is NIASA accredited and EcoHort certified through the FMS program.
January 10th Is Houseplant Appreciation Day
Let's celebrate Houseplant Appreciation Day on January 10th by recognising all of the amazing benefits houseplants provide. They’re decorative, boost well-being and purify indoor air. Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to show your houseplants a little TLC. Thank a plant today for bringing beauty into your home and office, making you feel good and naturally cleansing the very air you breathe inside.
NextGen Tour Of Richgro
On Wednesday, our NGIWA Nextgen group (aged 18-35) were provided with an amazing opportunity to have an inside look at Richgro’s Bioenergy plant located at their Jandakot site. A first in the Southern Hemisphere, Richgro’s $8 million enclosed Anaerobic Digestion Plant is turning tonnes of waste from many commercial companies, that would otherwise go to landfill, into clean energy and power that can be exported back to the grid.
The tour was led by Tim Richards of Richgro, who explained in great detail all the different processes involved in creating up to 2MWE of electricity via their anaerobic digestion plant. Tim made mention of similar anaerobic digestion plants already operating in Germany and the U.S, which really brought home how far ahead other countries are in producing renewable energy. Everyone agreed, it was a very interesting and informative tour which gave them great insight into the ‘green’ alternatives available for creating power well into the future.
A big thanks to the Richgro team for hosting the tour, and our industry sponsor Water Corporation for sponsoring the event. Also, thanks to Matthew lunn, NGIWA CEO who cooked a delicious bbq lunch for all who attended.
Thanks,
Michael Gorman (NextGen Coordinator)
Member Profile - Great Southern Institute of Technology
Situated 450 kms south of Perth you will find the port city of Albany and home to NGIWA member, Great Southern Institute of Technology (GSIT). I had met Mark Randall, lecturer of Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management, back in August at our biosecurity forum and had agreed I would visit the college and speak to the staff and students about the work of NGIWA and careers in horticulture. A month ago I made the trek to Albany and was delighted to find that the the future of horticulture is in safe hands and that our regional areas of WA are alive and kicking with up to date training facilities.
Christmas Retailers Night Wrapped Up
On Tuesday we held our final NGIWA/GCA Retailers Night for 2016. The theme was 'Christmas Retailing' and our 40+ guests were entertained by Sabrina Hahn, who presented 'The Good, The Bad & The Ugly of Christmas Retail". Our sponsors for the night, Sunpalm Australia showcased their Langley Fertilizer product, Troforte and members learned a thing or two about christmas wrapping.
Special thanks to new NGIWA members, Caitlin and Simon Mitchell of Miaflora Garden Centre in Inglewood, for allowing us to hold this event in their pretty fairy lit establishment. The balmy evening meant we could put on a barbeque following the presentations where everyone was able to mingle, network and build friendships.
Member Profile - Apace WA Inc.
NGIWA membership covers a variety of horticultural organisations and we are delighted to have as part of our portfolio, a number of community nurseries. Recently I made the trip to North Fremantle to catch up with the staff at Apace nursery and see first-hand the benefits the local community can gain by having such an organisation on their doorstep.