Grow Me Instead launched in Queensland
Queensland’s Grow Me Instead Program was officially launched on November 5 at Roma Street Parkland, Brisbane to a captive audience of industry and government stakeholders. John McDonald, Nursery Industry Development Manager, NGIQ Queensland opened the proceedings and emphasised the value of horticultural sectors supplied by production nurseries and reiterated how important the industry is to Queensland and the national economy.
Barry Naylor, Queensland Grow Me Instead Project Coordinator, then provided an overview of the three bioregion booklets; Sub Tropics, Dry Tropics and Wet Tropics that were developed as part of the Queensland project. Each booklet indentified 30 invasive plants which were formerly grown and sold to gardeners, and have since ‘jumped the garden fence’ and become invasive in the natural environment. For each invasive plant listed in the booklet, several superior non-invasive plants are provided as suitable alternatives.
The invasive plants and superior alternatives were developed by NGIQ in partnership with 65 stakeholder groups including Biosecurity Queensland, Brisbane City Council, South East Queensland Catchment as well as several Queensland nurseries. Dr Anthony Kachenko, NGIA Environmental and Technical Policy Manager, says this level of engagement with the Grow Me Instead initiative in Queensland demonstrates how such an initiative can strengthen the relationship between industry and external stakeholder groups to protect the natural environment for future generations.
With Grow Me Instead booklets already available for each State and Territory of Australia, the launch of these Queensland booklets completes the series. This campaign is one of the most proactive educational campaigns initiated by industry that raises the awareness of invasive plant issues and how to effectively manage these undesirable species.
In addition to the three booklets, an interactive website www.growmeinstead.com.au has been launched. This website provides users with a map to identify their bioregion and provides them with simple prompts to follow for both the invasive plants and their recommended
non invasive alternatives. All three booklets can be downloaded from this site and there is an integrated search function to allow users to easily search either invasive plants of suitable alternatives. Although this website has been developed for Queensland, NGIA is working with NGIQ to expand the website to incorporate the Grow Me Instead lists for New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, or Northern Territory.
The Queensland Grow Me Instead program was made possible through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program. To obtain copies of Grow Me Instead booklets for Queensland, please email NGIQ at info@ngiq.asn.au or call the office on (07) 3277 7900.
