Integral Energy investment will enhance natural wonder

12 September 2008

 

Integral Energy will invest $850,000 towards improving one of the State’s most stunning natural beauties, Mount Annan Botanic Garden whilst upgrading essential electrical infrastructure to the growing communities around Campbelltown.

 

Later today, Integral Energy, the Botanic Gardens Trust and Landcom will sign a Memorandum of Understanding at Integral Energy’s head office at Huntingwood for the unique project.

 

Under the project, Integral Energy will upgrade power poles at the Mount Annan Botanic Garden to provide improved electrical infrastructure to newly developed suburbs around Camden and Campbelltown.

Many existing power poles will be removed and relocated  in less visible locations. Under the MoU, Landcom will provide an easement to the south of the Garden to enable the upgrade works.

Integral Energy will provide the Botanic Gardens Trust $850,000 to assist the Trust remove the African Olive weed over the next five years.  Local provenance species of Eucalyptus and Acacia plus understorey planting and seeding of native shrubs and grasses will replace the Olive.

 

Integral Energy Chief Executive Officer Vince Graham said Integral Energy had worked very closely with the Botanic Gardens Trust’s Natural Heritage team to minimise removal of established trees and maximise remnant forest retention. 

 

"We acknowledge the need to build electrical infrastructure in sympathy to the local surrounds. Our focus is to ensure reliable energy supply to the growing communities in Sydney's south west but at the same time minimise impacts to the environment in which they live."

 

Botanic Gardens Trust Executive Director Dr Tim Entwisle said the MoU demonstrated Integral Energy, Landcom and Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust working together for the environment and local community.

 

Dr Entwisle said the project would address the widespread African Olive weed problem at the Mount Annan Botanic Gardens.

 

“We will propagate replacement trees to ensure wildlife corridors and biodiversity are improved.  Long-term, the visual impact will be amazing,” he said.

 

Dr Entwisle said as stewards of the Garden, the Trust was planning for the next 50 to 100 years. 

 

“The project will also contribute to the Trust’s research program on African Olive control, and include techniques to re-establish endangered plant communities such as Western Sydney Dry Rainforest and Cumberland Plain Woodland,” he said.

 

Mount Annan is one of the newer suburbs on Sydney’s south-west urban fringe located in the south-eastern part of the Camden Local Government Area. Current estimates show the population of the Mount Annan area around 52,000. Mount Annan Botanic Garden is situated along the F5.  Its 416 hectares support native plants, birds, mammals and reptiles and provide over 30 kilometres of walking and cycling tracks.