New jobs created during Sunshine Coast nursery expansion
Increasing consumer demand for trees, grasses and shrubs along with a growing focus on environmentally friendly production has driven a Sunshine Coast nursery to re-think how they supply plants.
Leita Brown
Production and propagation capabilities at Plants Direct Queensland, at Eumundi, will increase to include a purpose-built facility to supply plants in biodegradable pots; a project company directors expect will support up to 17 new jobs in the in the local industry.
The business was one of 14 across the state to receive up to $250,000 in funding under the latest round of Rural Economic Development Grants, administered through the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA).
Co-director Leita Brown said the project was designed to meet increasing demand for landscape lines, while helping to maintain job security in the future.
“We see a market opportunity to supply quality grown tubestock of trees, grasses and shrubs to the revegetation market in biodegradable pots, saving planting time, reducing plastic and improving plant growth rates,” Ms Brown said.
“We also see the potential to increase our supply of tube stock to the plant revegetation market and plant supply for landscape restoration, in vulnerable areas and more recently areas impacted by bushfire.”
Ms Brown said local government policy and planning increasingly involved mitigating the effects of climate change and climate variability.
“The flow on being that the private sector and developers adhering to policies but also responding to changing community expectations; increasingly valuing the benefits that green spaces provide, such as cooling urban areas, reducing pollution and improving liveability, health and wellbeing,” Ms Brown said.
“There are many advantages when planting a biodegradable pot into the landscape; it saves time, as the material does not have to be removed; reduces waste; reduces the use of plastic; achieves a lower carbon footprint and faster growth rates due to better quality root systems.”
Seven full-time employees will be needed once the project is up and running, another five during construction, plus it will support five in-direct full-time jobs.
Second generation nursery professionals and siblings Luke and Leita Brown operate Plants Direct Queensland, a family-owned business established in 1982.
“We have been supplying the landscape industry for almost 40 years and our plants have enhanced many projects across a variety of sectors including aged care and education facilities, resorts, golf courses, and housing estates,” Ms Brown said.
“Some of the more prominent projects include PA Hospital, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Commonwealth Games Village, Brisbane Airport, Qld Tennis Centre and Lizard Island Resort.”
The Rural Economic Development (RED) Grants program offers emerging projects up to $250,000 in co-contributions to build industry and grow employment opportunities across the agricultural sector. The $10 million grants program provides for three funding rounds over a three-year period ending 2021.
A total of 14 businesses have received $3.34 million under the second round of funding for the RED Grants program. Overall these 14 projects are expected to create more than 600 jobs across the agricultural sector in regional Queensland.
QRIDA offers a range of assistance to primary producers, small business and non-profit organisations. To find out what’s available visit Programs and Services.
The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) administer the RED Grant scheme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
