The Palmetum is one of three botanical gardens in Townsville, covering 17 hectares and featuring a unique and diverse collection of plants from the palm family.
The collection contains around 3,000 species of palm, many of which are rare and threatened in their natural environments.
This week, the City of Townsville council announced the Palmetum would be receiving a $2.1 million enhancement to the irrigation network system.
The upgrade is funded by the Queensland Government as part of a series of upgrades and new council infrastructure across Townsville.
The installation will occur by under-boring throughout the garden to reduce the impact on the plants.
Infrastructure Services Committee chairperson Kurt Rehbein said the funding would renew the garden’s existing network system, some of which is more than 20 years old, ensuring its security as a Townsville destination for years to come.
“Palmetum is a beautiful space and is home to some incredibly rare and unique plant species that our staff work meticulously to care for, so ensuring the irrigation is up to standard is crucial for maintenance of the garden,” said Mr Rehbein.
Member for Mundingburra Les Walker said the Palmetum irrigation upgrade would deliver much needed jobs for the local community.
“This is great news for Townsville’s economic recovery, with 17 local jobs up for grabs thanks to the Palaszczuk Government’s investment in Townsville,” he said.
For more information visit the Townsville Council website.