Month: August 2015

As the Lae Botanic Gardens are becoming closer to be re-opened to the public later this year, Lae based, tier one contractor Northbuild PNG has jumped in with its own support to the National Botanic Gardens LAE Advancement Program. Northbuild has generously supplied a large contingent of workers and resources to re-build the existing ablution buildings – vital to the successful opening strategy.

Northbuild’s efforts are a fantastic example of how the business community can help to put in place vital infrastructure and services to enable visitors to spend quality time in their natural environment.

Northbuild’s six workers were excited to help re-build the ablution block so that the gardens can be re-opened and their families can re-visit the gardens like they did in their younger years. Northbuild’s Director Mr Paul Boddington says ” Northbuild congratulates the Friends of the Lae Botanic Gardens in their effort to re-open the gardens and are very happy to assist in this endeavour”.

 

 

Papua New Guinea’s Forest Research Institute Acting Director Martin Golman says “ The FRI are extremely grateful for Northbuild’s contribution to the Advancement Program. Supplying essential infrastructure is an important step to our program and will allow us to re-open the Gardens in October. Thank you very much Mr Boddington”.

Along with partners, the PNG Forest Research Institute and the Friends of the Botanic Gardens Lae are making good progress and continue to reach out to business houses and other partners to come on board.  For more information on getting involved, please contact the Curator, Michael Lovave at the PNG Forestry Research Institute on 472 1041 or 472 4188 or email mlovave@fri.pngfa.gov.pg.

Lae, Morobe Province, PNG, 6^th August, 2015 – The National Botanic Gardens (Lae) Advancement Program has received another exciting boost to their operations with the generous donation of a brand new Husqvarna ride-on mower on Monday 4 August 2015. Husqvarna & Farmset Limited, who donated the machine, are the latest international & local business to contribute to the program that aims to revive the gardens and re-open to the public in October 2015.

Initiated in 2014 by Friends of the Lae Botanic Gardens, the Advancement Program has gone from strength to strength in 2015, largely thanks to backing from local and international businesses interested in the regeneration of the gardens as a safe and secure public space for the whole community of Lae and visitors to enjoy. Centrally located in Lae and once internationally renowned for its diversity, the gardens sprawl across 38 hectares which is a lot of upkeep for the small team of eight grounds workers. Up until now, the vast lawns were maintained with a tractor and small push-on mowers, a task that took up much of the gardeners time and did not produce quality lawns for the public to enjoy.

With this gift of a top of the range Husqvarna ride-on mower, keeping the beautiful lawns of the gardens well maintained will take a fraction of the time, allowing the team to focus on other areas that are being restored for the re-opening. Farmset has also serviced and repaired four Husqvarna brush cutters belonging to the gardens free of charge in July when the Advancement Program was communicated to them. Dr. Martin Golman, Acting Director of the PNG Forest Research Institute who received the keys from Merv Stephens, Inventory Manager at Farmset stated ‘we are extremely humbled by the generosity of the business community and their support of our efforts. Farmset is well-known throughout PNG for their quality products and service, so to receive a quality Husqvarna mower and hands on training from their team will have immediate and sustainable impact on our gardens and for our workers.’

Farmset is a 100% Papua New Guinean owned company that has been operating since 1969 and is now a leading supplier of products and services for the agricultural sector in PNG.