The Andrews Labor Government is drought proofing the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne − with high-quality recycled water now being used to irrigate the award-winning Australian Garden and plant nursery.

The $3.25 million project will deliver water from Melbourne’s Eastern Treatment Plant via a 1-kilometre pipeline to a new water treatment plant at Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, which will further clean the water of salts and nutrients to make it suitable for long-term irrigation of Australian plants.

This pipeline will save 35 megalitres − or the equivalent of 14 Olympic-sized swimming pools − of potable water per year.

The completed works allow Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne to adopt sustainable water management practices to better respond to climate-change-related rainfall and temperature changes.

The project began delivering recycled water to the Australian Garden earlier this month, helping to grow more than 100,000 plants representing 1900 different species, including 400 rare or threatened species and those from the Victorian bushfire recovery programme.

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is one of Victoria’s premier eco-tourism destinations attracting interstate and overseas visitors, with more than 1.5 million people visiting the gardens last year.

Quote attributable to Minister for Water Lisa Neville

 “The completion of this project will not only allow the much-loved gardens to bloom but will also provide them with a reliable water source well into the future – combatting the threat of climate change.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio

“This is a great example of the benefits of using recycled water – Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne benefit and the community will have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful gardens for years to come.”

Quote attributable to Parliamentary Secretary for Water Harriet Shing

“The completed works allow the gardens to adopt sustainable water management practices ensuring the long-term viability of the gardens and its beautiful plants.”

Quote attributable Member for Cranbourne Pauline Richards

“This fantastic sustainable water project will allow award-winning Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne and its precious plants and animals to thrive all year round.”