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media releases | July 03, 2023

Still no word on management change for arboretum

Member for Lowan and Deputy Leader of The Nationals, Emma Kealy is continuing her call for the Minister for Environment to immediately return management of the Peter Francis Points Arboretum in Coleraine to a local committee of management.

Situated on 37 hectares of parkland on the edge of Coleraine and with more than 10,000 recorded plants, The Points houses one of Australia’s most valuable native plant collections which includes a broad collection of Eucalypts and a range of walking trails and beautiful picnic areas.

Management of The Points Arboretum was transferred from a local committee of management to Parks Victoria several years ago, with no budget allocated by Labor for its upkeep.

“The arboretum has been in a disgraceful state for the last few years because Parks Victoria simply do not have the resources to maintain it,” Ms Kealy said.

“Locals are rightly concerned about the future of this fantastic community asset and are embarrassed by its current and deteriorating condition.

“I raised this issue in Parliament in February, asking the Minister to intervene and save the arboretum by returning responsibility to a local management committee, with the Minister advising that Labor was committed to finding a prompt resolution to the management of the arboretum. 

“There were meetings late year between The Points Association, who do a fabulous job and want to continue to manage this great asset for all Australians, and the then Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, with agreement reached that responsibility would be returned to a local committee of management.

“There is a very talented and experienced local incorporated committee with adequate finances at their disposal who are ready and willing to immediately accept this management challenge to restore the arboretum to its former glory.

“The committee has been made all sorts of promises that a decision will be made very soon, however nothing is happening, and the community is understandably becoming increasingly angry and frustrated.

“The Minister needs to step up and immediately finalise this transfer of responsibility to stop any further deterioration of this wonderful and unique asset and ensure its future for generations to come.”