By ERWIN CHLANDA
Prominent botanist Peter Latz described the Olive Pink Botanical Gardens as a “globally unique treasure”.
It has the world’s biggest collection of Central Australian species, 600 of them, including 33 that are rare or endangered.
Mr Latz spoke at the 30th anniversary of the gardens last Thursday at which curator Ian Coleman announced ambitions plans.
Designs of the plantings will be enhanced to boost numbers of visitors – currently 50,000 a year, about 50-50 locals and tourists – to be lured with a “wow factor”.
There will be a gazebo for functions for up to 70 guests “with a Central Australian flavour” – they’ll gather in the company of black footed wallabies, coming in to drink from the small pond.
Lighting will be upgraded with a $25,000 grant from Chief Minister Adam Giles.
The planned demonstration gardens – your own back yard with native flora – is likely to be a hit, judging from the response to the plant sale the following morning: It started at 8am with 800 plants of 50 species. An hour later only four species were left.
Mr Coleman says Olive Pink will have a curatorial group consisting of Mr Latz, Peter Jobson, senior botanist of the NT Government herbarium, Scott Pullyblank, curator of NT Desert Park Life sciences, Sarah Roberts of the Charles Darwin University and other leading horticultural and botanical experts of Central Australia.
PHOTO: Chairperson for 10 years Libby Prell, praised by Mr Coleman for performing her job with “expertise and charm, and being a major philanthropist”, addressing guests on Thursday. Mr Coleman is next to Ms Prell. Mr Latz, stroking his beard, is next to dedicated Tweeter Mayor Damien Ryan. Parks Minister Bess Price is seated in the front row, between husband David and daughter Jacinta.