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2 Introduction 46 Our Supporters 2 Chairman’s foreword 47 Generous financial support 3 About Us 48 Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation Victoria 3 Our Vision 48 Maud Gibson Trust 3 Our Mission 49 Perennial Gardeners 3 Our Values 49 Seat Sponsorship 3 Our Charter 49 Director’s Circle 3 Definitions 51 Research grants 4 Our Organisation 51 Friends of the Royal Botanic 5 Melbourne Gardens Gardens Cranbourne Inc 5 Cranbourne Gardens 51 Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens, 5 State Botanical Collection Melbourne Inc. 5 ARCUE 52 Our volunteers 5 Visitor numbers 52 Herbarium Volunteers 6 Governance 53 Cranbourne Gardens Volunteers 6 Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria Members 54 Melbourne Gardens Volunteers 7 Board committees 55 Honorary Associates 8 Executive Team (as at 30 June 2016) 56 Financial statements 9 Organisation Chart 58 Accountable Officer’s, Chief Finance Officer’s 10 Our Employees and Board’s Declaration 11 Employee profile 59 Comprehensive Operating Statement 12 Employee learning and development 60 Balance Sheet 13 Employee relations 61 Statement of Changes in Equity 62 Cash Flow Statement 14 Our Performance 63 Notes to the Financial Statements 15 Financial Overview 93 Independent Auditor’s Report 15 Revenue Generation and Budgetary Objectives 15 Comparison of financial performance and position 95 Appendix One: Disclosure Index 17 Consultancies 96 Appendix Two: Other disclosures 18 Risk management and Insurance 96 Statements of compliance with 18 Risk Management Attestation government policy 19 Risk Management Framework 96 National competition policy 19 Insurance 96 Victorian Industry Participation Policy statement 20 Our Achievements 96 Advertising expenditure 21 Theme 1 - Discovery and sharing knowledge 96 Statement of availability of other information 28 Theme 2 - Inspiring plant learning 97 Gifts, Benefits, and Hospitality Attestation 35 Theme 3 - Creating special places 98 Legislation 40 Theme 4 - Towards a sustainable future 98 Legislative compliance 98 Financial Management Act 1994 98 Freedom of Information Act 1982 98 Building and maintenance provisions of the Building Act 1993 99 Compliance with the Protected Disclosure Act 2012

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Introduction

CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD Our Melbourne and Cranbourne sites together It is a great pleasure to present the Royal Botanic attracted more than 1.8 million visitors and continued Gardens Board Victoria Annual Report 2015–16. to prove the popularity and importance of botanic This year has been one of consolidation and gardens. Roll-out of the new visual identity proved preparation, as we completed major strategic plans a popular addition for visitors, and contemporary new and began to craft a narrative for the next exciting signs and brochures have added a new vitality to the phase of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. visitor experience. We continued to be a popular venue for school students with more than 32,000 students The Board launched its Landscape Succession completing education programs during the year. Strategy – Melbourne Gardens 2016–2036: adapting In all that we do and deliver, the Royal Botanic Gardens a world-renowned botanical landscape to climate Victoria is committed to reinforcing our Mission, change on the 170th anniversary of the founding of that is, advocating the importance of plants to life. Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens. This ground-breaking strategy is one of the first to address the impacts of The year also saw a change of Ministers in May. climate change on botanic gardens and will guide On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the the careful plant selection and expert horticultural outgoing Minister, the Hon Lisa Neville MP, for her care needed to manage transition of the Melbourne strong support of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and Gardens’ landscape to one more suited to welcome our new Minister, the Hon Lily D’Ambrosio Melbourne’s emerging climate. MP, to the portfolio. Long-term master planning for both sites commenced In addition to Government support, Royal Botanic and an extensive online and community-based public Gardens Victoria enjoys the support of many consultation process informed development of the wonderful donors, Friends’ groups, and volunteers, final draft of theCranbourne Gardens Master Plan as well as my colleagues on the Board and the 2016–2026. The Cranbourne Master Plan sets priorities Foundation. These supporters are joined in their for the next ten years with particular reference to efforts by a particularly dedicated and passionate catering for the growing population on our doorstep staff. The Board joins with me in thanking everyone in an increasingly urbanised neighbourhood on who has contributed to the success of the Royal Melbourne’s south-eastern fringe. At Melbourne Botanic Gardens Victoria during the year. Gardens, the master planning process began, seeking In accordance with the Financial Management Act 1994, a bold vision for the next 20 years. It is expected to I present the Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria’s take another 12 months to complete. Annual Report for the year ending The first phase of the Organisation Structure Review, 30 June 2016. announced in April, merged the Plant Sciences and Biodiversity Division and the Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology under the one Science Division to strengthen the profile and impact of our science. The creation of a new ‘Public Engagement and Business Development’ directorate places a greater emphasis on and capacity for the Gardens’ Ken Harrison public and business functions. The Review is expected Chairman to be completed by the end of 2016 and I look forward Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria to working with a renewed and revitalised organisation. 16 August 2016 While the year saw an emphasis on future planning, work by our scientists and horticulturists continued to deliver world-class research and landscapes. Science collaborations resulted in use of next generation techniques in the genetic sequencing of rare plants, and relocation of the Australian Network for Plant Conservation (ANPC) Orchid Conservation Program to Cranbourne Gardens brought this vital program under the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s management.

Page 2 ABOUT US Remarkable – We leave a lasting impression Our Vision We create experiences and special places that Life is sustained and enriched by plants help everyone to learn and see the world differently. Our vision is a flourishing community and Whether our actions are big or small, they inspire healthy planet, sustained and enriched by people to think and act. We seek out knowledge plants. Through iconic landscapes, horticultural and apply our learning, because we believe in excellence and scientific eminence we will the importance of plants. We do things that are make an enduring contribution to this vision. different and exciting, if they help us achieve our vision. We are proud of our past and we are Plants, along with fungi and algae, are fundamental passionate about our future. to life on Earth. They provide the air we breathe, the food we eat, many of the medicines that heal Our Charter us, and habitat and shelter for our planet’s wildlife. Under the Royal Botanic Gardens Act 1991, They give our lives inspiration and meaning. the objectives of our organisation are: We prosper and our planet benefits when we • To conserve, protect and improve the botanic gardens understand, appreciate and protect plants for their and managed land and their collections of living plants life-giving qualities. The actions we all take should be • To conserve and enhance the State Botanical Collection based on our knowledge and respect for plants. and National Herbarium of Victoria Our Mission • To provide for the use of the State Botanical Collection Every interaction with us advances the or plants or plant specimens at the botanic gardens understanding and appreciation of plants or managed land for scientific or reference purposes, Our mission is to use our two remarkable gardens, consistent with accepted international practice our innovative science, and our skills at sharing • To increase public knowledge and awareness knowledge, to help the community understand and of plants and plant communities value plants. We will seek every opportunity to interact • To provide for the use of the Botanic Gardens with people, from all walks of life and wherever they for education, public enjoyment and tourism live. By engaging with our local communities, attracting visitors to our gardens and connecting with people • To provide for the carrying out of and contribution online, we will achieve our vision. to research into biodiversity and the conservation of biodiversity. In all our interactions we will be creative, open, Definitions brave and remarkable as we look for every opportunity The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria is in our roles to advance the understanding and responsible to the Minister for Energy, Environment appreciation of plants. Our values guide our decision- and Climate Change. The Royal Botanic Gardens making and behaviour and determine how we will act Board Victoria is responsible for Melbourne Gardens, as we achieve our vision. Cranbourne Gardens, the State Botanical Collection Our Values and the Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology. Creative – We are inventive and enthusiastic Throughout this document the organisation will be Our curiosity allows us to find considered solutions referred to as follows: to challenges. We use our resources wisely and draw ARCUE – refers to the Australian Research Centre for upon our collective intelligence to answer questions. Urban Ecology, whose research facilities are located We have a joyful, positive and respectful approach at the Parkville campus of The University of Melbourne that is expressed with a good sense of humour. Our inclusive and engaging style helps us to learn Australian Garden – refers to the Australian Garden and share our knowledge in new and interesting ways. at Cranbourne Gardens Open – We make time to listen, learn and be clear Cranbourne Gardens – refers to the site at Cranbourne To help us achieve our vision we listen to each other Herbarium – refers to the National Herbarium and the community. We are friendly and respectful of of Victoria different perspectives. We solve problems together because supporting and learning from each other Melbourne Gardens – refers to the site at Melbourne results in better work. We share our knowledge Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria – refers to the because it helps people inside and outside our body responsible for corporate governance organisation understand the importance of plants. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – refers to the whole Brave – We have the courage to change things organisation, including the sites at Melbourne and We have the confidence to challenge established ways Cranbourne, the National Herbarium of Victoria, and of thinking if it improves our collective understanding the Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology of plants. We embrace our responsibility to protect State Botanical Collection – refers to the irreplaceable plants and biodiversity, whatever the role we play. resource of approximately 1.5 million dried specimens We have the courage to try new things, and we help and comprehensive botanical library held in the each other as we make these changes. We are positive, National Herbarium of Victoria at Melbourne Gardens. so we turn challenges into opportunities. We lead the way to inspire confidence and enthusiasm in others.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 3 Our Organisation

The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria administers Melbourne Gardens, Cranbourne Gardens, the National Herbarium of Victoria and the Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology (ARCUE). Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria incorporates two outstanding botanic gardens, a heritage-listed landscape in the heart of Melbourne and a contemporary native garden set within a natural bushland reserve at Cranbourne. It is also home to the State Botanical Collection (including 1.5 million preserved plants, algae and fungi) and is a regional hub for plant knowledge, with internationally recognised biodiversity, conservation and urban ecology research programs. MELBOURNE GARDENS In addition, the State Botanical Collection contains Melbourne Gardens has been a treasured part of the oldest and most comprehensive botanical library Melbourne’s cultural life for 170 years – much loved in Australia. Sitting alongside the State Botanical by generations of Victorians, as well as by many Collection is the Victorian Conservation Seedbank, visitors from interstate and overseas. It is a picturesque an insurance policy against extinction for some of haven for recreation and an important resource for Victoria’s rarest and most threatened plant species. education, conservation, science and horticulture. ARCUE Melbourne Gardens extends over 38 hectares and ARCUE was created in 1998 to increase understanding houses a collection of more than 8,500 species of of the ecology, restoration and management of plants from around the world, including diverse plant biodiversity in urban and suburban areas throughout collections such as camellias, rainforest flora, cacti and Australia and the world. succulents, roses, Californian species, herbs, perennials, cycads, plants from Southern China and, in the Rare ARCUE’s activities encompass basic and applied and Threatened Species Collection, plants from south- research; undergraduate and postgraduate training; eastern Australia. long-term ecological studies; community education; policy and management advice to all levels of At Melbourne Gardens visitors can enjoy a range of government; and consultancy services. In addition, guided tours including the popular Aboriginal Heritage ARCUE works closely with the School of BioSciences Walk, punting on the Ornamental Lake, seasonal walks at The University of Melbourne (where it is located), and an extensive program of theatre, film and events and with the research and education programs at during the summer season. Melbourne Gardens is both Melbourne Gardens and Cranbourne Gardens. home to the Melbourne Observatory, The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden, two cafes, two gift shops ARCUE continues to increase its environmental and a Visitor Centre located at Observatory Gate. business activities in support of its research objectives. CRANBOURNE GARDENS VISITOR NUMBERS Cranbourne Gardens includes one of Victoria’s most Attendance figures increased slightly this year, precious areas of remnant native bushland and offers with 1.8 million visitors to the Melbourne Gardens visitors the chance to explore heathlands, wetlands and the Cranbourne Gardens. and woodlands on the 363-hectare site. It is recognised Table 1: Visitor numbers as a site of State significance for flora and fauna conservation, with more than 25 species listed as 2015–16 endangered, threatened or at risk of extinction. Facilities Cranbourne Gardens 177,824 in the bushland include over ten kilometres of walking tracks, six kilometres of cycling tracks, a lookout tower, Including Australian Garden visitors 141,753 picturesque shelters, barbecues and picnic tables. Melbourne Gardens 1,623,335 The international award-winning Australian Garden celebrates the beauty and diversity of Australian Including The Ian Potter Foundation 216,942 landscapes and features approximately 170,000 Children’s Garden visitors plants representing 1,700 different species. The Total RBGV visitors (to both sites) 1,801,159 innovative design of the Garden has won multiple awards. Complementing the garden landscape are a visitor centre, café and kiosk, gift shop, community events space and interpretive displays. Figure 1: Melbourne Gardens & Cranbourne Gardens

STATE BOTANICAL COLLECTION 2,000,000 240,000 The State Botanical Collection was founded in 1853 and is housed in the National Herbarium of Victoria building at Melbourne Gardens. The Royal Botanic 211,073 1,547,536 Gardens Victoria is the Victorian Government’s major 1,500,000 1,623,335 180,000 centre for botanical studies in plant identification, 177,824 collection and classification. The State Botanical Collection is an irreplaceable 1,000,000 120,000 resource of approximately 1.5 million dried specimens of plants, fungi and algae from Australia and many other countries. One of the most historically significant and among the top few collections in the world, the 2014-15 2014-15 500,000 2015-16 2015-16 60,000 State Botanical Collection is an international scientific research resource used by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria staff as well as visiting botanists. Research areas include biodiversity, classification, evolution, biogeography, molecular systematics, Melbourne Cranbourne conservation and horticulture.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 5 GOVERNANCE Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria Members The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria is a Mr Kenneth Harrison AM, MBA, BBus, FCPA, FAICD statutory authority established under the Royal Chairman – appointed 10 December 2013 Botanic Gardens Act 1991. The Board is responsible Appointed to the Board 9 April 2012 to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Mr Harrison is an accountant and investment banker, Change for fulfilling its statutory obligations under the and specialises in commercial property, pastoral and Royal Botanic Gardens Act 1991 and the Royal Botanic agricultural pursuits as Chairman of Collinsbank Pty Gardens Regulations 2014. These make provision for Ltd. Keenly interested in the philanthropic sector, he the care, protection, management and improvement occupies fundraising roles with several key institutions. of Melbourne Gardens and Cranbourne Gardens, Professor Rob Adams AM the Herbarium and ARCUE. The responsible Ministers Appointed to the Board 9 April 2016 during the 2015–16 reporting period were: Professor Adams is Director City Design and Projects • the Hon Lisa Neville MP, Minister for Environment, at the City of Melbourne and a member of the Cities Climate Change and Water for the period from of the Future Council of the World Economic Forum. 1 July 2015 to 22 May 2016; and He has made a significant contribution to the • the Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP, Minister for Energy, rejuvenation of central Melbourne over his Environment and Climate Change for the period 33-year tenure. from 23 May 2016 to 30 June 2016. Professor Tony Bacic FAA The Board comprises seven members, including Appointed to the Board 17 December 2013 a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman, who are appointed by the Governor-in-Council on the Professor Bacic is a plant biologist with an extensive recommendation of the Minister. Appointed Board background in research and research training. members have a diversity of knowledge and expertise His primary focus is on understanding plant growth in the fields of botany, financial management, business and development with a view to ensuring a secure food management, public administration and nature supply and sustainable agriculture. He was Director of conservation. The members are appointed for the Bio21 Molecular Science & Biotechnology Institute a term not exceeding four years, but are eligible (until 31 December 2014), The University of Melbourne, for re-appointment. A quorum of the Board is Deputy Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence in four members. Plant Cell Walls, and was a long serving member of the Maud Gibson Trust Advisory Committee. The Board oversees the governance of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and may delegate its Mr Graham Cunningham MBA, BEc functions and powers to a committee of the Board, Deputy Chairman – appointed 9 April 2012 the Director and Chief Executive, any of the Board’s Appointed to the Board 9 April 2012; members, or any of its employees. A member of the term ended 31 July 2015 Board who, either directly or indirectly, has a conflict Mr Cunningham has an extensive background of interest or duties, or a direct or pecuniary interest in finance and business and has served on a range in any matter before the Board, must declare the of private and public sector boards. He was Chairman nature of the interest or conflict at a meeting of the of the Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation Victoria Board. The member must not take any further part until 30 June 2015. in the discussion or voting on the matter to which the Mrs Penny Fowler GAICD, BBus declaration relates. The Director and Chief Executive Deputy Chairman – appointed 9 April 2016 has responsibility for the day-to-day management Appointed to the Board 8 April 2014 and control of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. With a background in business and marketing, Board meetings are held at least eight times every Mrs Fowler is the Chairman of the Herald and Weekly year. The Director and Chief Executive attends every Times Pty Ltd and the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Board meeting and the Director, Corporate Resources Friday Appeal. She is also a board member of the is the Secretary to the Board. Directors attend at least Australian Ballet and the McClelland Sculpture Park one Board meeting each year to inform the Board & Gallery, actively involved in a range of community of key issues and outputs relevant to their Division; this organisations and an ambassador for Second-Bite. enhances the Board members’ knowledge of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and its activities. The Board Mr Martyn Kenneth Myer AO may also request external or independent advice on Appointed to the Board 20 May 2014; a particular matter. term ended 8 April 2016 Mr Myer has an engineering and financial services background and has been chairman of Cogstate Ltd, a health services software company, since 1999. He is currently a Member of the Council of the University of Melbourne, the Board of the Melbourne Theatre Company and the Board of the Royal Institution of Australia, President of The Myer Foundation and Chairman of Myer Family Investments Pty Ltd.

Page 6 Ms Jillian Riseley GAICD MSt BA Board committees Appointed to the Board 9 April 2016 Most Board members also participate in one Ms Riseley has 20 years’ experience in sustainability or more Board Committees, which include: and public affairs and is currently Managing Director • Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology of Meliora Group, a strategic advisory firm. Ms Riseley Board of Management has held leadership roles in the corporate and public • Finance and Audit Committee sectors and is currently also a Board member of • Remuneration Committee Launch Housing and Heathcote Health. Qualifications include a Masters of Studies in Sustainability • Risk Committee Leadership from the University of Cambridge. The Committees may include Board members and Ms Susanne Williamson other persons who bring special areas of expertise Appointed to the Board 9 April 2016 to the organisation. For 25 years, Ms Williamson has held senior marketing Finance and Audit Committee and fundraising positions at charities including the The Finance and Audit Committee consists of three Heart Foundation, Arts Centre Melbourne and Monash independent members, appointed by the Board, University. Winner of multiple awards for her work in usually for a term of three years. Under the the non-profit and commercial sectors, she is currently Committee’s Charter, the role of the Finance and Head of Fundraising at the Walter and Eliza Hall Audit Committee is to oversee: Institute of Medical Research. • the financial performance of the Royal Botanic Ms Sarah Wrigley GAICD, BMS (NZ) Gardens Victoria Appointed to the Board 9 April 2012; • the financial reporting process term ended 8 April 2016 • the scope of work and performance of the internal Ms Wrigley has high level experience in marketing and external auditors and fundraising. She is Chairman of the Warrandyte • matters of accountability and internal control affecting Community Bank® and has strong knowledge the operations of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria of community boards and valuable links to the • the effectiveness of management information systems community. and other systems of internal control, and Ms Jennifer Wolcott, GAICD • the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s monitoring of Appointed to the Board 15 December 2009 compliance with laws and regulations. Ms Wolcott is currently Executive Director Policy & Independent members of the Finance and Audit Planning, Regional Development Victoria. She has more Committee in 2015–16 were Mr Graham Cunningham than 20 years’ experience in the Victorian public sector (Committee Chairman 1 July 2015 – 31 July 2015), holding executive positions in Environment Protection Mr Ken Harrison (1 July 2015 – 30 June 2016), Authority, the Department of Natural Resources and Ms Sarah Wrigley (1 July 2015 – 8 April 2016; Environment, the Department of Primary Industries and Committee Chairman 1 August 2015 – 8 April 2016), Parks Victoria, and has been a member of the Victorian Professor Tony Bacic (Committee Chairman 9 April Coastal Council and led a number of major inquiries, 2016 – 30 June 2016), Ms Jillian Riseley (28 June 2016 including the Independent Fiskville Investigation. – 30 June 2016) and Ms Susanne Williamson (28 June Table 2: Board attendance figures 2016 – 30 June 2016). – from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 Remuneration Committee Remuneration of Board members is fixed by the Board Member No. of meetings No. of Governor-in-Council under Schedule 2 of the Royal eligible to attend meetings Botanic Gardens Act 1991. The Board appoints the attended Director and Chief Executive of the Royal Botanic Kenneth Harrison 9 9 Gardens Victoria and is responsible for the Director and Chief Executive’s remuneration and performance, Rob Adams 2 1 and for review of the Director and Chief Executive’s Graham Cunningham 1 1 decisions on Executive remuneration. Members of the Remuneration Committee in 2015–16 Tony Bacic 9 8 were Mr Graham Cunningham (Committee Chairman Penny Fowler 9 8 1 July 2015 – 31 July 2015), Mr Ken Harrison (1 July 2015 – 30 June 2016), Ms Sarah Wrigley Martyn Kenneth Myer 7 5 (1 July 2015 – 8 April 2016; Committee Chairman Jillian Riseley 2 1 1 August 2015 – 8 April 2016) and Professor Tony Bacic (Committee Chairman 9 April 2016 – 30 June 2016). Susanne Williamson 2 2 Refer to the financial statements for further information Jennifer Wolcott 9 6 regarding remuneration. Sarah Wrigley 7 7

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 7 Risk Committee Director, Australian Research Centre for The Risk Committee consists of three members, Urban Ecology (1998) appointed by the Board, usually for a term of three Associate Professor Mark McDonnell PhD, MSc, BA years. Under the Committee’s Charter, the role of Responsible for scientific studies of plant biodiversity the Risk Committee is to oversee the operation and and ecological processes in Australian cities and towns. implementation of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s His personal research focuses on applying ecological Risk Management Framework. science to the management and preservation of Members of the Risk Committee in 2015–16 were Ms biodiversity in urban and suburban environments Jennifer Wolcott (Committee Chairman 1 July 2015 – in Australia. Dr McDonnell is an Associate Professor 30 June 2016), Mrs Penny Fowler (1 July 2015 – 30 June with the School of BioSciences at The University 2016) and Mr Ken Harrison (1 July 2015 – 30 June 2016). of Melbourne. Executive Team (as at 30 June 2016) Director, Corporate Resources (1992) Director and Chief Executive (2013) Jenny Steinicke BA, Grad Dip Bus Professor Timothy J Entwisle PhD, BSc (Hons) Responsible for initiating and co-ordinating projects Leads and promotes the activities of the Royal Botanic to improve corporate governance and management, Gardens Victoria including the Melbourne Gardens and including financial management and planning, the Cranbourne Gardens, the National Herbarium of human resources, marketing and communications, Victoria and the Australian Research Centre for Urban information services, business development and Ecology in order to achieve the highest standards in implementation, and legal, legislative and contractual horticultural, scientific and financial management, and issues. Ms Steinicke is also responsible for financial in visitor and education programs. and project management of the new Herbarium Professor Entwisle is a highly respected scientist, project at Melbourne Gardens and the Integrated scientific communicator and botanic gardens director. Water Management projects at Melbourne Gardens He took up the role of Director and Chief Executive and Cranbourne Gardens. She has over 20 years’ of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in March 2013, experience in botanic gardens management, and following two years in a senior role at Royal Botanic previously held senior management positions in Gardens, Kew, and eight years as Executive Director consumer affairs and education. of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust in Director, Melbourne Gardens (2010) Sydney. Professor Entwisle is an Honorary Professorial Chris Cole Dip Hort (Kew) Fellow in the School of BioSciences at The University Responsible for horticultural planning and operations, of Melbourne, and a regular contributor to print, radio, including landscape planning, management and television and social media. development of living plant collections, arboriculture, Chief Botanist and Director, Plant Sciences and environmental horticulture and research, nursery Biodiversity (2006) operations, and management of site facilities and Professor David Cantrill PhD, BSc (Hons) infrastructure at Melbourne Gardens. Provides direction Responsible for scientific research into plant for the development and delivery of public programs biodiversity and systematics, and management at Melbourne Gardens and is also responsible for of the State Botanical Collection. As Chief Botanist, managing the development and implementation of Integrated Water Management and Landscape he holds statutory responsibility under the Royal Succession projects at Melbourne Gardens. Mr Cole Botanic Gardens Act 1991 and the Drugs, Poisons has 15 years’ experience in public and botanic gardens and Controlled Substances Act 1981. management and has worked at Hampton Court Professor Cantrill worked as a senior research scientist Palace, National Trust, Royal Botanic Gardens, in Europe for 15 years, first for the British Antarctic Kew and Townsville Botanic Gardens. Survey in Cambridge and later at the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm. He has published Director, Cranbourne Gardens (2001) Chris Russell BSc (Hons), Grad Dip Land Rehab over 100 scientific articles; is an editor ofGrana , an international journal for pollen studies; and sits on Responsible for the management and operation of a number of international editorial and scientific Cranbourne Gardens, including the Australian Garden, advisory boards. His research interests focus on horticultural planning and operations, conservation integrating information from fossil and living floras research and management, development and delivery to understanding the origins of patterns of diversity of public programs, and landscape and infrastructure in the southern hemisphere. He holds an honorary development and management. Mr Russell is also professorship with the School of BioSciences at responsible for strategic planning for future site use, The University of Melbourne. input into land-use planning in the region surrounding the Cranbourne Gardens and delivery of capital works projects. Prior to joining the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Mr Russell had experience in environmental management and capital projects with Parks Victoria (formerly National Parks Service Victoria), the building industry, and scientific research.

Page 8 Organisation Chart

DIRECTOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE Professor Timothy J Entwisle

Administration Foundation

Plant Sciences Melbourne Cranbourne Corporate ARCUE & Biodiversity Gardens Gardens Resources

Chief Botanist Director Director Director Director & Director Chris Cole Chris Russell Jenny Steinicke Associate Professor Professor Mark McDonnell David Cantrill

Collections Arboriculture Horticulture Business & Ecology Research Library Environmental Land Management Finance Plant Sciences Horticulture & Infrastructure Human Resources Horticulture Planning & Information Infrastructure Development Services Landscape Public Programs Legal & Policy Planning Marketing & Public Programs Communications Major Projects

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 9 Our Employees

Our work is transformational; it is also about people. It contributes to the lives of people and is healing, restorative, life-giving and even spiritual; a sense of being connected in some way to the patterns of life which transcend our own current lifetime. (Corporate Plan 2014–2019)

Matt Howard, Curator, The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden EMPLOYEE PROFILE The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria is Notes to Table 4 below: committed to applying merit and equity principles All figures reflect employment levels during the last full pay period of June 2016. Excluded are those employees on leave without pay or absent on secondment, when appointing employees. The selection processes or casuals who were not paid in the final pay period. ensure that applicants are assessed and evaluated fairly Ongoing employees include people engaged on an open-ended contract and equitably, on the basis of key selection criteria and of employment. other accountabilities, without discrimination. FTE means Full-time staff equivalent. Our employees have been correctly classified in workforce data collections. Table 3: Summary of employment levels as at June 2016 and June 2015

Total Ongoing employees Fixed term, headcount Fixed task & Casual (includes Number Full-time Part-time FTE Headcount FTE ongoing, (headcount) (headcount) (headcount) Fixed term, Fixed task & Casual)

June 2016 208 141 101 40 124.91 67 33.21

June 2015 215 152 106 46 130.00 63 33.62

Table 4: Details of employment levels re: gender, age and classification

June 2015 June 2014 Total Ongoing Fixed term, Total Ongoing Fixed term, headcount Fixed task headcount Fixed task (includes & Casual (includes & Casual Ongoing, Ongoing, Fixed term, Fixed term, Fixed task Fixed task & Casual) & Casual) Number Headcount Number Headcount (headcount) (headcount) 208 215 Gender Male 87 69 18 92 75 17 Female 121 72 49 123 77 46 Age Under 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 25–34 18 8 10 23 10 13 35–44 59 45 14 68 49 19 45–54 72 57 15 72 57 15 55-64 40 27 13 43 32 11 Over 64 19 12 7 9 4 5 Classification Staff 158 97 61 164 107 57 Line Manager 31 29 2 32 32 0 Branch 13 13 0 13 13 0 Manager Executives 6 0 6 6 0 6

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 11 EMPLOYEE LEARNING Equal Opportunity (EO) AND DEVELOPMENT The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria has an Equal Opportunity Committee that meets on an as needs The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria is basis, arranges EO training sessions, acts as Contact committed to development of a skilled and professional Officers for any EO issues and monitors compliance workforce, and to providing safe and equitable working with the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 2010. conditions for all. All new employees are provided with an induction pack upon commencement. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) The relevant Line Manager takes the employee through The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s OHS Working the induction pack and provides other support during Group and OHS Committee continued to oversee the orientation period. development and implementation of OHS initiatives to ensure a healthy and safe workplace. The 2015–16 development program included face-to- face sessions in Equal Opportunity, Sunsmart, and Focus continued on the Occupational Health and Performance Review System Workshops. Employees Safety Management System review project, with also attended conferences, seminars, field-trips and assistance of OHS consultants Your Safety Partners. technical training appropriate to their respective roles. Key achievements of 2015–16 included the roll-out of improved safety risk management templates and Topics covered by e-learning modules included Equal guidelines, development of a Hazard Management Opportunity, Bullying and Harassment, Code of Register including initial trialling at Cranbourne Conduct, Charter of Human Rights, Manual Handling, Gardens, selection of a Learning Management System Duty of Care, Office Ergonomics, Risk Management, (for procurement and implementation in 2016–17) and Job-specific modules (eg Hazardous Substances), continued development of new, and review of existing, and Fraud Awareness. All new employees complete OHS-related procedural documents and collation into the suite of existing e-learning modules within three a Safety Tool Kit (OHS manual 80 per cent complete). months of commencement. All other employees complete e-learning modules on an annual basis. Organisation-wide manual handling and ergonomics training was conducted in addition to specific competency training within functional groups. In addition to the development of the Hazard Register (which will be implemented across both Melbourne and Cranbourne sites in 2016–17) workplace hazards continued to be managed through conduct of regular workplace hazard inspections involving facilities managers and Health and Safety Representatives. Public Administration Values Consistent with the requirements of the Public Administration Act 2004, the Board has adopted a range of policies designed to promote good governance in all its decision making and operations. The policies comprise: Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest, Dispute Resolution, Gifts (including benefits and hospitality), Meetings and Decision-making, and Performance Assessment.

Page 12 WorkCover Claims EMPLOYEE RELATIONS WorkCover and data relating to claims lodged in Royal Botanic Gardens Enterprise 2015–16 and in the previous year are reported in Table 5. Agreement 2014–2017 As at 30 June 2016, 17 new WorkCover claims had been The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria received. The OHS Committee and Return to Work Enterprise Agreement (EA) 2014 was approved Co-ordinator continue to monitor all WorkCover claims by the Fair Work Commission on 9 December and incidents. 2015 and came into effect from 16 December 2015. Table 5: WorkCover claims for the past two years The EA has a nominal expiry date of 31 October 2017. The in-principle agreement date with the Community 2015–16 2014–15 and Public Sector Union was reached on 1 November 2014, with pay increases and other adjustments Minor Claims1 12 9 being backdated to this date. Pay increases of 2.35 per cent, 1.5 per cent, 1.5 per cent and 1.5 per Standard Claims2 5 5 cent were backdated to 1 November 2014, 1 May 2015 Total all Claims 17 14 and 1 November 2015, and made on 1 May 2016 respectively. No. of Lost Time Standard 4.43 6.72 Claims per 100 FTE Average Cost 1,435.99 1,150.46 per Claim RBGV3 ($)

1. Minor Claims – Less than 10 days’ time lost and/or under $667 medical and like expenses (non–recoverable). 2. Standard Claims – Greater than 10 days’ time lost and/or greater than $667 medical and like expenses. Some salary costs may be recoverable from insurers. 3. Average cost per claim RBGV – Claims costs paid by RBGV for less than 10 days’ time lost and/or under $667 medical and like expenses (ie non–recoverable from insurer).

On commencement, all new employees are provided with ‘Return to Work Obligations’ information sheets, and current Worksafe posters are visible on all notice boards.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 13 Our Performance

We are more than beautiful sites; we are a place of knowledge. We help nurture an understanding of the scientific, environmental, social, economic, cultural and spiritual importance of plants to our existence and provide our community with opportunities to prosper from a deep connection with plants. (Corporate Plan 2014–2019) FINANCIAL OVERVIEW Revenue Generation and Budgetary Objectives Table 6: Financial results for 2015–16 The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria’s income is primarily annual recurrent funding from the Victorian 2015–16 Government, supplemented by income generated $ through grants, donations, fund-generating programs, business operations and investment. The annual Government and other grant funding recurrent budget is allocated to salaries, operating - Parks and Reserves Trust Account grants 15,942,218 costs and minor capital works. - Commonwealth Government 168,711 The main budgetary objectives of the organisation are to: - Other grants 751,481 • maintain and improve the two botanic gardens Sponsorship 1,613,427 and curate their living collections Other Income 5,088,499 • pursue scientific research on the Australian flora and improve the curation and storage of the State Total Expenses (25,253,887) Botanical Collection Net result (1,689,551) • interpret and use the living collections and State Botanical Collection to advance the understanding Comparison of financial performance and position and appreciation of plants The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria’s operating • complete implementation of the Integrated Water result for the financial year ended 30 June 2016 was Management project at both Melbourne Gardens lower than the previous year, mainly due to inclusion and Cranbourne Gardens, and of salary-related payments relating to the 2014–15 • identify and implement new business opportunities financial year arising from implementation of the Royal building on the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s brand, Botanic Gardens Victoria’s new Enterprise Agreement while fostering expansion of current revenue sources. (EA) in December 2015 and expenditure of carry Income from Government forward project revenue received in the previous During 2015–16, annual funding provided by the financial year. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Other significant movements in Royal Botanic Gardens (DELWP) was applied to achieve the Board’s main Board Victoria’s revenue and expenses included an budgetary objectives and also used to enable repair increase in Parks and Reserves Trust Account funding, or replacement of the most urgent of those assets mainly due to the annual CPI increase, receipt of requiring attention, including the maintenance of additional funding for implementation of part of garden paths and kerbs, reconstruction of internal the new weekend loading provision of the EA and Gardens’ boardwalks, replacement of office and garden a one-off funding supplementation for 2016–17 equipment and vehicles, the installation of elliptical received in advance. louvres in the Melbourne Gardens’ Visitor Centre, With respect to the Royal Botanic Gardens Board building works undertaken to improve safety, and Victoria’s financial position, significant restoration of the landscaping surrounding the movements include: William Tell Rest House. • an increase in the value of property, plant and Works on the Fire Protection System project at equipment assets due to the independent revaluation Melbourne Gardens continued with completion of the of land, buildings, infrastructure and cultural assets (the Nursery and Works Yard element, and other capital latter of which includes the State Botanical Collection), repairs were aimed at improving the safety of the that resulted in a corresponding increment in the ramps and stairs at the Cranbourne Gardens’ Visitor Physical Asset revaluation surplus equity balance, and Centre. In addition, a water-based heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system was installed to • an increase in cash and deposits balances as at 30 service the Boon Wurrung Café, Tarnuk Room and June 2016, mainly due to receipt of the Parks and Auditorium at Cranbourne Gardens. Risk-related Reserves Trust Account funding for 2016–17 in advance minor asset funding was also received from DELWP and funding for risk-related capital works, the latter during the year for works to be undertaken in 2016–17 of which is reflected as an increase in the contributed on the last remaining element of the Fire Protection capital equity balance. System project at Melbourne Gardens, which relates There were no events occurring after the balance to installation of the cross-garden connection and date which may significantly affect the Royal Terrace works (Melbourne Gardens ring main), a new Botanic Gardens Victoria’s operations in subsequent HVAC system for the Herbarium building to replace the reporting periods. current system that is no longer functioning effectively, and safety improvement path works around the Fern Gully at Melbourne Gardens.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 15 Table 7: Five-year comparison of financial results

2015–16 2014–15 2013–14 2012–13 2011–12 $ $ $ $ $ Government and other grant funding Parks and Reserves 15,942,218 14,536,099 14,292,000 14,289,000 12,936,000 Trust Account grants Commonwealth Government 168,711 64,217 0 120,000 1,545,000 Other grants 751,481 631,346 378,450 426,892 831,781

Sponsorship 1,613,427 1,771,407 1,882,990 1,371,924 1,768,237

Other income 5,088,499 5,285,075 5,308,180 5,292,853 5,855,568

Total expenses (25,253,887) (22,749,249) (22,733,521) (22,034,830) (20,437,812)

Net result (1,689,551) (461,105) (871,901) (534,161) 2,498,774

Net cash flow from 1,490,429 2,134,640 847,928 (1,623,215) 6,926,746 operating activities

Total assets 613,975,705 421,812,214 421,799,557 422,753,073 426,432,783

Total liabilities 6,373,072 5,157,402 4,683,640 4,842,404 7,837,073

Page 16 Consultancies Table 8: Consultancies Details of individual consultancies during the year are summarised as follows:

Consultant Purpose of Consultancy Start Date End Date Total Approved Expenditure Future Fee (excl. GST) 2015–16 Expenditure (excl. GST) (excl. GST) VOTAR To review the IT environment and 3/03/2015 6/07/2015 43,539 3,300 0 PARTNERS propose a series of improvement PTY LTD initiatives to be implemented over the next five years, which will align the ICT Strategy with RBGV's organisational objectives and with Whole-of-Government IT Strategy initiatives, including an assessment of records management analysis.

HURLY To redesign the Human 19/02/2015 30/07/2015 10,821 1,932 0 CONSULTING Resources Branch structure to enable it to meet its strategic and operational objectives. ELDRED To review compliance with and 1/10/2016 23/10/2016 20,000 20,000 0 HOSPITALITY provide recommendation on market expectations as to an existing rental arrangement. CATO BRAND To review current RGBV signage 23/11/2015 31/03/2016 30,000 30,000 0 PARTNERS PTY and propose a common signage LTD hierarchy for both the Melbourne Gardens and Cranbourne Gardens sites. MIDNIGHTSKY To propose an approach that will 29/07/2015 31/12/2015 32,500 32,500 0 deliver a fundraising campaign which deepens the engagement of staff and existing supporters with the RBGV vision as well as connecting with new supporters. HALLIDAY’S To conduct a workplace 1/03/2016 31/05/2016 24,545 22,545 0 BUSINESS cultural health and wellbeing INSIGHTS assessment across an RBGV division and provide a report and recommendations

BENDELTA To review the RBGV 1/11/2015 31/12/2016 139,425 112,325 27,100 organisational structure and propose an alternative which better aligns with the RBGV Vision and Mission, and efficiently and effectively facilitates delivery of RBGV’s strategic objectives. PARKING AND To conduct a feasibility study on 1/11/2015 31/03/2016 10,950 10,950 0 TRAFFIC car parking arrangements for the CONSULTANTS Cranbourne Gardens site.

CONTEXT To develop a Conservation 1/07/2015 30/06/2016 119,400 119,400 0 PTY LTD Management Plan for the Melbourne Gardens, that will inform preparation of the new Melbourne Gardens Landscape Master Plan. 431,180 352,952 27,100

In 2015–16, the Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria did not award engaged two consultancies where the total fees any major contracts (valued at $10 million or more) payable to the consultants were less than $10,000, during 2015–16. with a total expenditure of $4,800 (excluding GST).

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 17 Risk management and Insurance

RISK MANAGEMENT ATTESTATION Attestation for compliance with Victorian Risk Management Framework

Page 18 RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s Risk Management Framework adopts and applies a systematic process to identify, analyse, assess, treat and monitor risk in the activities and functions of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria so that the risk inherent in those activities and functions is reduced. The current Risk Management Framework was developed in 2016 and meets the requirements of ISO 31000:2009 Risk management – Principles and guidelines. Risks are examined in the context of existing organisational controls, and the degree to which those controls are effective in managing the risk is assessed and related to the level and degree of oversight required. Results are reviewed quarterly by the Risk Committee. The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria uses the Risk Management Framework along with other planning mechanisms to identify, understand and manage possible positive and negative outcomes. Development of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s new Risk Management Framework, to provide for compliance with the updated Victorian Government Risk Management Framework released in May 2015, updated the risk profile of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. It identified one risk rated as Extreme, that of loss or degradation of the State Botanical Collection, resolution of which requires a new Herbarium building. This Extreme risk has been drawn to the attention of the Minister consistent with the Board’s obligations under section 81 of the Public Administration Act 2004. Upgrading of the Fire Protection System at Melbourne Gardens has continued, with completion of the Nursery and Works Yard precincts. The final stage of Melbourne Gardens’ fire protection systems upgrade, the cross-Gardens connection and Terrace, will be completed in 2016–17. Management continued to mitigate, to the extent possible, the ongoing effects of climate change and operational costs that continue to rise by amounts greater than CPI on an annual basis. During the year, regular meetings of the Critical Incident Planning Group took place to plan for responses to and recovery from critical incidents. Insurance During 2015–16, the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s insurance coverage relating to the State Botanical Collection was reviewed and aspects of the policy clarified with the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 19 Our Achievements

Our strategic focus for the life of the Corporate Plan The Royal Botanic Gardens 2014–2019 is encapsulated in the four themes that Act 1991 requires that the support our vision and mission: Royal Botanic Gardens Board 1. Discovery and sharing knowledge 2. Inspiring plant learning Victoria prepares a Corporate 3. Creating special places Plan outlining the strategies 4. Towards a sustainable future. the Board intends to adopt The Corporate Plan is a strategic planning document from which the Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria to achieve the objectives of Business Plan 2015–16 stems, adopting its structure of the four strategic themes and detailed specific the Act and the priorities actions for the reporting period. and targets of the Board. The following section – Our Achievements – reports against the Specific Actions and Performance The Royal Botanic Gardens Measures identified in the 2015–16 Business Plan; it further reports against ongoing work that relates Board Victoria Corporate Plan to the Corporate Plan Strategic Themes, including 2014–2019 – Sustaining life – future initiatives. This financial year was the second year of the current corporate planning cycle. sets out the Board’s long-term strategic focus and the four themes that inform the five-year planning cycle, as well as the strategic actions required to achieve the objectives of the Act. Theme 1: Discovery and sharing knowledge

We will share our expertise and spread our influence beyond the gates of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, and contribute to the global scientific knowledge base through our science, research, conservation and by working with external parties. (Corporate Plan 2014–2019)

Above: Botanical illustration from the Wehl collection, held in the State Botanical Collection

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 21 AT A GLANCE YEAR IN REVIEW • 3,179 Australian and foreign vascular and Australian The total budget allocated to achieving Theme 1 algae Type specimens were photographed as high in 2015–16 was $4.7 million, which included funding resolution digital images for the Global Plants for the core activities of the Royal Botanic Gardens Initiative (GPI) project; 2,220 images with associated Victoria that are related to this Theme. metadata were delivered to Journal Storage (JSTOR). Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria achieved the following • 3,992 specimens from the foreign collection were Budget Paper No.3 output performance measure in the databased as part of the Foreign Collection Project. 2015–16 reporting period: • 36 peer-reviewed papers were published by Plant Table 9: Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Sciences and Biodiversity and ARCUE staff and performance against objectives students, of which 75 per cent were published in Institute for Scientific Information (ISI)- or Performance Threatened native species SCOPUS-listed journals. indicator and communities for which • 45 talks and lectures (to students, the public, specifically targeted experts and academics) were given by senior conservation measures executive and science staff and students, and are in place at Royal 21 presentations were made at national and Botanic Gardens international conferences or symposia, at Unit of measure number network forums or as university public lectures. 2015–16 target 6

2015–16 actual 6

Variance % 0

Result 

Note (1).

= performance target achieved or exceeded or expected to be achieved.  = performance target not achieved – exceeds 5% variance.  = performance target not achieved. Within 5% variance. RESEARCH In another first, staff used a new source of sequence Research by Plant Sciences and Biodiversity scientists data from transcriptomes of clonal pairs of Common plays a key role in discovering and naming plants and Reed Phragmites australis exposed to different salt fungi (taxonomy) and in elucidating their relationships levels, which showed local clonal adaptation to higher and evolutionary history (systematics). Complementary salinity levels. This information will be critical for to this is the practical and applied research into the management of salinizing ecoystems in the ecology, restoration and management of biodiversity Gippsland Lakes. in urban areas undertaken by ARCUE scientists. Much Uncovering the genetic basis of fungal form – of the research conducted by Royal Botanic Gardens mushroom or truffle Victoria’s scientists underpins a range of conservation Staff participated in an international project involving and sustainability initiatives. Flinders University, the Joint Genome Institute (JGI), Consolidating and developing scientific research and the United States Department of Energy, Following an organisation-wide structure review to identify the genetic basis of the switch between in 2015–16, it was decided that RBGV’s science be mushrooms and sequestrate (truffle-like) fungi. In integrated into the one science division. Australia there have been numerous independent evolutionary transitions between the above-ground Other developments included completion of the mushroom fruit-body form and the below-ground Plant Sciences and Biodiversity Master Plan, which was truffle-like forms. Such transitions have occurred approved by the Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria in diverse lineages across the fungal evolutionary in February. The plan identified three priorities including tree with the truffle-like forms resulting from these building taxonomic capacity, which will inform research distantly related lineages all looking remarkably similar. work in the next ten years. In addition to this, work It is thought that such changes in fruit body form commenced on developing a Science Strategy for may have been adaptations to past climate change. the whole organisation, which will be informed by the Due to the vital role of many ectomycorrhizal fungi Plant Sciences and Biodiversity Division Master Plan in providing nutrition to plantation forests, there is and ARCUE External Review and is expected to be much interest in this project to see if it can unlock completed by December 2016. the genetic basis of fruit type and perhaps provide Research collaborations a basis for selecting beneficial and adapted fungi The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is committed for forest trees exposed to future climate change, to attracting high-quality research staff and students and for restoration of natural vegetation. and to working collaboratively with other key national Urban ecology and international scientific and academic institutions ARCUE’s Associate Professor Mark McDonnell to maximise its research capacity. Research projects attended the Ecological Society of America Annual often extend over a number of years; in 2015–16 Meeting (100th anniversary celebration) in August 2015, twenty-one new funding proposals were successful participating in the launch of the new Journal of Urban including support for the Victorian Conservation Ecology, published by Oxford University Press, of which Seedbank, Orchid Conservation Program, phylogenetic he is the Editor-in-Chief. In September, he developed research into the Asparagales; novel genetic techniques and presented a two-week intensive course on Urban for conservation and fungal genomics received Ecology to Masters of Landscape Architecture students particular prominence. at the National University of Singapore. The following Next generation genetic techniques month, fellow ARCUE scientist, Dr Amy Hahs presented as tools for conservation a two-week intensive course on GeoDesign to Attendance at the 11th Clonal Plants Workshop Masters of Landscape Architecture students at the in the Czech Republic in August exposed staff to same university. a new Next Generation Sequencing method, MIG-seq, Along with other project partners of EAGA (Eastern which is designed for genetic studies on rare or Alliance for Greenhouse Action), ARCUE’s work was little-known species. This method shows great promise recognised by the United Nations Association of for conservation studies such as those conducted Australia (UNAA) when EAGA received the UNAA by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Researchers World Environment Day Local Government Award are collaborating with the method’s developer, for Biodiversity Monitoring in Melbourne’s east. Led Professor Yoshihisa Suyama from Tohoku University in by the City of Boroondara, the project involved the Japan, and are providing samples to test its suitability development and trial of a framework for monitoring for distinguishing clonal plants and genetic lineages. indicators of biodiversity health in the context of a A project analysing clonality in the rare daisy Olearia changing climate. The joint Project Team members passerinoides subsp. glutescens aims to develop from ARCUE and The University of Melbourne microsatellite markers and compare the results to undertook research, facilitated capacity building those obtained from the new MIG-seq method to workshops with Project Working Groups, prepared enable a rigorous assessment of their reliability and framework documents and analysed data from the trial. suitability for conservation studies of rare plants.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 23 Publications eFlora of Victoria Plant Sciences and Biodiversity staff continued to Following the go-live launch of version one of VicFlora achieve publication success in peer-reviewed journals in February 2015, a seminar was held in September with 36 papers published during the year; 75 percent to showcase version two, in particular its improved of these were in ISI-or SCOPUS-listed journals. features including search capability, expanded species Among the most notable of these papers was the profile pages and images of key features. The greatly publication of two papers resulting from the Hanson improved version two is scheduled to be released in Constructions-supported project on the conservation September 2016, once further plant images have been genetics of four rare grassland species from the added to the product. Progress towards the release Victorian Volcanic Plain: Ahrens, C.W., and James, E.A. of version two was advanced with a grant of $30,000 2016. Regional genetic structure and environmental from the Maud Gibson Trust in February 2016 to variables influence our conservation approach for support the imaging of exemplar herbarium specimens feather-heads (Ptilotus macrocephalus). Journal of Victorian taxa to add to the online resource. of Heredity, 107, pp. 238–247, and Ahrens, C.W., & From August 2015 to June 2016, 12,514 unique users James, E.A. (2016). ‘Conserving the small milkwort, had viewed 194,192 pages of version one of VicFlora. Comesperma polygaloides, a vulnerable subshrub Importantly for a web-based service, the bounce rate in a fragmented landscape.’ Conservation Genetics, 17, is less than 50 per cent and user sessions last an pp. 891–901. average of eight minutes, indicating that once ARCUE researchers published 19 peer-reviewed ‘discovered’, users spend a considerable amount research papers and one book chapter, of which of time using VicFlora. A specification for the 78 per cent were published in ISI- or development of a new ‘skin’ for VicFlora was SCOPUS-listed journals. distributed in June, and work is due to commence in July 2016. Following the publication of the Handbook of Road Ecology by Wiley in April 2015, ARCUE‘s Dr Rodney Conferences and forums van der Ree, a lead editor of and significant contributor Plant Sciences and Biodiversity staff presented to the book, embarked on a speaking tour of France, their research findings at national and international Japan, USA, India, Malaysia, Singapore and South conferences and meetings during 2015–16. Africa to promote the book. The tour was undertaken Dr Pina Milne highlighted one of the many significant with the support of an Australian Academy of Science collections held in the State Botanical Collection travelling fellowship valued at $7,000. The handbook when she delivered a presentation at the John Child addresses the global cost of road building on wildlife Bryophyte and Lichen Workshop, Waimate, mortality in ecologically sensitive areas and is a New Zealand in October. The title of the presentation resource for road planners, designers and construction was The Rev. William Colenso bryophyte collection teams. It is particularly relevant in developing countries at the National Herbarium of Victoria (MEL). where roads are being proposed through ecologically In addition to this, in June Dr Milne attended both sensitive wilderness areas; 150 copies of the book were the Global Genome Biodiversity Network and distributed to practitioners in developing economies. Global Plants Initiative Meeting, in Berlin. Other staff Research findings from ARCUE’s long-term study presented findings on the germination requirements into turtle populations at 20 wetlands around greater of the threatened Southern Shepherd’s Purse at the National Seed Science Forum, Sydney, a keynote Melbourne were published in Austral Ecology: a journal address on the applications of genetics in conservation of ecology in the southern hemisphere, v. 41 in January. The journal article entitled ‘Road density and wetland at the 13th International Conference on Integrated Field context alter population structure of a freshwater turtle’ Science, Japan, orchid conservation at the examined findings from a six year study by Dr Andrew 6th International Orchid Conservation Conference, Hamer and his team, which looked at the impact of Hong Kong, and VicFlora at the Australasian Systematic Botany Society Annual Conference, Canberra. habitat fragmentation by road networks on Chelodina longicolllis, the common long-necked turtle. Preliminary Dr Tom May attended the scientific meeting evidence showed that by fragmenting habitat, road of the Australasian Mycological Society in networks can have a direct impact on the mortality of New Zealand in May, which was held jointly with turtles. The program involved measuring turtles at the the New Zealand Fungal Foray. Fungimap staff and monitoring sites to determine size and approximate volunteers also participated in a series of events age, which in turn assisted researchers in determining in northern Tasmania in May 2016 including various population density and viability at each site. public lectures, talks, activities for primary school students, workshops and forays. These events were PEER AND COMMUNITY organised in collaboration with the Australian Plants ENGAGEMENT AND ACCESS Society Tasmania, the Central North Field Naturalists Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is committed to and the Tasmanian natural resource management increasing awareness of its contributions to plant organisations Cradle Coast NRM and NRM North. biodiversity research, plant conservation and urban All activities were well-attended and there was local ecology by increasing its national and international print and radio media coverage. The events were partnerships with the scientific community as well followed by a collecting expedition to the Tarkine as improving access to plant information. region of north-western Tasmania.

Page 24 Approximately 150 collections were made of Orchid Conservation Program various macrofungi for incorporation into the State The Australian Network for Plant Conversation Botanical Collection. (ANPC) Orchid Conservation Program has been With the support of a Melbourne Friends’ scholarship relocated to Cranbourne Gardens and is now under Collections Branch Co-ordinator Curation Catherine the management of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Gallagher travelled to Berlin to research MEL’s The program works in partnership with various foreign collection and, along with Dr Milne, attend government, private industry and community the 31st Annual Meeting of the Society for the organisations and is responsible for the symbiotic Preservation of Natural History Collections in June. propagation and re-introduction of some of This research trip allowed her to investigate current south-eastern Australia’s most threatened orchids. tools and technologies in curatorial practice as well Of Victoria’s 400 terrestrial species, almost a quarter as gain a more detailed understanding as to which are threatened and covered by this vital conservation parts of MEL’s foreign collection are likely to contain program, which undertakes research on the orchids’ significant material. Work on the Foreign Collections symbiotic fungi, pollinators and requirements for Project was highlighted with presentations to the optimising re-introductions in the wild. Endangered both the Melbourne Friends’ and the Royal Botanic orchids that have been brought back from the brink Gardens Foundation outlining increased efforts of extinction include Caladenia audasii (Audas to progress the databasing and curation of this Spider-orchid), down to only five plants,Thelymitra important part of the State Botanical Collection. mackibbinii (The Brilliant Sun-orchid), less than 60 wild plants known, and Caladenia versicolor ARCUE staff and students presented their research (The Candy Spider-orchid), down to only three findings at national and international conferences populations, prior to their successful propagation during 2015–16 including Dr Rodney van der Ree, and subsequent re-introductions. who presented papers at the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation In collaboration with partner organisations including (ICOET), Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Wimmera Catchment Management Authority (CMA), ANPC, Trust for Nature, Parks Victoria, the Department RARE AND THREATENED SPECIES of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria staff contributed Portland Aluminium/Alcoa, a planting program to the implementation of State, Territory and commenced in August to reintroduce hundreds of Federal Government management plans to further endangered orchids back into the wild, including six the conservation of plants and ecosystems by species of federally-threatened orchids. An estimated participating in working groups and recovery 3,000 native orchids will be planted in various locations teams, and undertaking joint research projects throughout their natural range as part of this three-year with and on behalf of external corporate bodies project funded by Portland Aluminium/Alcoa. This work and research institutions. is the culmination of a research conservation program led by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s Dr Noushka Plant Sciences and Biodiversity staff contributed Reiter in hand pollinating and collecting seed and to the work of recovery teams and working symbiotically germinating the seed in the laboratory groups for the following species: the Helmeted until the plants are ready for re-introduction to the wild. Honeyeater, Borya mirabilis, Pimelea spinescens, Grevillea infecunda, Swainsona recta, Ballantinia HERBARIUM COLLECTIONS antipoda, Diuris frangrantissima, and other species Collections development in the Threatened Orchid Recovery Project. Work The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria remains committed by Horticulture staff, under the auspice of BGANZ to developing the collections and curating and Victoria, towards the establishment of a multi-site databasing the 1.5 million existing plant, algae and fungi regional botanic garden conservation collection also specimens held within the State Botanical Collection. progressed (see page 38). The project is due to be launched at the BGANZ Plants Forum in September. Development opportunities in 2015–16 included the acquisition of the H.E. Ramsay Collection from Mildura Victorian Conservation Seedbank Rural City Council when it agreed to permanently Now in its eleventh year, the Victorian Conservation transfer the collection to the State Botanical Collection. Seedbank continued to build on the store of seed Helen Eileen Ramsay was a local botanist and plant from rare or threatened species or from species collector working in the Mildura region in the 1940s found only in Victoria (endemics) and lodged for and 1950s. A founding member of the Sunraysia Field long-term storage at Melbourne Gardens and the Naturalist’s Club, Ramsay collaborated closely with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank Herbarium’s Dr Jim Willis and regularly sent specimens Project (MSBP) headquartered at Wakehurst Place from collecting trips to the National Herbarium of in the United Kingdom. Collections were made from Victoria. In 1960, Ramsay donated her collection of 56 new populations, including seed of 44 taxa new 1,000 specimens to the Mildura Arts Centre. Recognised to the Victorian Conservation Seedbank. A shipment as a collection of State significance, it includes two of duplicate seeds has been sent to Wakehurst Place. new species of Bassia that were described by Willis Of these, a total of 21 species are new to the and named in Ramsay’s honour. The Collection will Millennium Seed Bank. be databased and be accessible online on Australia’s Virtual Herbarium. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 25 Foreign Collections Project Atlas of Living Australia Now in its second year of funding from the Royal Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria continued to support Botanic Gardens Foundation, the Foreign Collections the work of the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) through Project – Revealing the Secrets of the Herbarium – the development of KeyBase, Australian Virtual saw its capacity for databasing the estimated 400,000 Herbaria (AVH) data delivery across the Council of specimens in the Collections increase two-fold with the Heads of Australasian herbaria network and ingestion appointment of an additional staff member in April. of names for mosses and fungi for the National Species Databasing of foreign Myrtaceae Types revealed the List. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s data is accessible State Botanical Collection holds a significant number to the wider community through AVH and ALA portals of specimens of Brazilian taxa, including many sheets delivering information on plant distribution, seed bank from the Sonder Collection that were annotated by holdings and, in the future, the living collection. 19th century German botanist O.K. Berg. Berg used There are over 872,808 Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria the specimens to describe new species in Vol. Part 1 records in the ALA/AVH, and these have been used Myrtaceae of Martius’ Flora Brasiiensis (1857–1859). 90 million times by researchers around the world As part of this project, 3,992 foreign-collected in 2015–16. specimens were databased. In addition to this, Global Plants Initiative a further 11,382 specimens were mounted or curated Work continued to create digital images of specimens from the State Botanical Collection as part of the held in the State Botanical Collection to be added Herbarium Volunteers program. to Global Plants on JSTOR, a world-wide scientific Collections access database (plants.jstor.org), as part of the Global Plants During 2015–16, 58 visiting researchers accessed Initiative. Now in its fifth year, 3,179 Australian and the herbarium specimen collection and spent foreign vascular Type specimens were imaged, and 155 days working in the collections. In addition, eight batches of images with associated metadata 13,545 specimens were processed as part of the (totalling 2,220 Types) were delivered to JSTOR. This loans and exchange program and material was year marked another milestone for the MEL Global sent on loan to 26 institutions, nine of which were Plants Initiative project, with more than 20,400 Type overseas scientific institutions. specimens now available online through JSTOR, Support for the National Museum of Australia’s comprising Australian vascular Types, Australian algae ‘Landmarks: People and Places Across Australia’ (Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta and a small number of gallery continued with the loan of eight 19th century Heterokontophyta), and foreign vascular Types from Australian collections. This has been a long-term families 1–43. loans program, with more specimens from the State LOOKING AHEAD Botanical Collection due to be sent to the Museum Victorian Grassland Conservation Program – establish during 2016–17. Representations of specimens from an integrated and broadly scoped program, including the H.E. Ramsay collection featured in an exhibition research into the population and life history structure at the Port Jackson Press Print Gallery in Collingwood of threatened grassland communities, discovery in April. The solo exhibition by Christine Johnson and classification of new species, seed banking, Voyagers Botanical – Inland included cyanotypes propagation, management and restoration based on botanical specimens in the Ramsay collection. Johnson’s cyanotype etchings of Ramsay specimens Science Strategy – a whole-of-organisation science included images of Wahlenbergia fluminalis and strategy will be finalised by June 2017 with the aim Argentipallium blandowskianum from the Mallee of consolidating science research and service region of north-west Victoria. delivery programs As part of a collaborative effort to digitise State Australian Network for Plant Conservation Botanical Collection publications, the Library hosted annual conference – Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria the Australian branch of the Biodiversity Heritage will host the New Approaches to Plant Conservation Library (BHL), based at Museum Victoria, from in the Modern World conference in November 2016. November to March. The BHL is the world’s largest, Bringing together on-ground conservation practitioners free online repository of literature and archival material and researchers, the conference program will examine relating to biodiversity with contributors including themes such as landscape scale restoration, rescuing the Smithsonian Libraries, Missouri Botanic Garden, small populations from extinction and conservation Library of Congress and Natural History Museum for people and nature. Library, London. The collaboration allowed the BHL to expand the breadth of their work and provided an opportunity for some of the State Botanical Collection’s publications to be digitised. During this time, Museum Victoria BHL staff added 92 volumes from 40 titles, containing 13,468 pages to the BHL, all of which are now available online.

Page 26 OVERVIEW OF SPECIFIC ACTIONS AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Long-term Strategy 1.1: Consolidating and focussing scientific research Specific actions Progress against deliverables and performance measures 1.1.2 Develop and implement the • Postponed, with new completion date set as whole-of-organisation Science 31 December 2016 Strategy by 31 December 2015

Conduct external review of • External Review completed 17–18 November 2015, ARCUE’s programs including and report presented to ARCUE staff in January 2016 research, teaching, financial • Management response to the ARCUE review was released management and community in February 2016. Both long- and short-term actions from outreach the external review are being implemented

Undertake $0.5 million • Total revenue of $488,057 was achieved worth of commercial ecological research projects

Long-term strategy 1.2: Providing plant information to people where and how they want it Specific actions Progress against deliverables and performance measures 1.2.2 Establish a regional or virtual • Access to knowledge about the Victorian vascular flora identification network in Victoria has increased through additions to VicFlora and a network linked to e-Flora by 30 June 2016, of users is developing to provide increased public accessibility to fundamental knowledge of Victoria’s vascular flora

Long-term strategy 1.3: Making a major contribution to solving plant-related and ecological problems Specific actions Progress against deliverables and performance measures 1.3.4 Publish Handbook of Road Ecology • Handbook was promoted in France, Japan, USA, India, (Wiley) and promote ecologically Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa sound road building practices in • Over 150 copies circulated to practitioners in developing developing countries economies

1.3.7 Through BGANZ Victoria, explore • Second phase of the project has been scoped RBGV leading the establishment • The project to be officially launched at BGANZ of a multi-site regional botanic Plants Forum in September 2016 garden conservation collection with associated interpretation

Long-term strategy 1.4: Restoring and unlocking the Herbarium’s World Collection Specific actions Progress against deliverables and performance measures 1.4.1 Mount, database and curate the • 6,272 foreign-collected specimens were databased non-Australian component of from Cronquist families 16–76 the Herbarium collection (rich in • 11,382 specimens were mounted or curated from specimens of historic and scientific the State Botanical Collection importance) by 2024

Mount, database and curate the • 11,325 specimens were mounted, remounted and Australian component of the State curated from the State Botanical Collection Botanical Collection

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 27 Theme 2: Inspiring plant learning

We will build and expand the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s public programs, education and innovative communication role to help everyone understand and value the role of plants in their lives. (Corporate Plan 2014–2019)

Above: Botanical illustration from the Wehl collection, held in the State Botanical Collection

Page 28 AT A GLANCE YEAR IN REVIEW • 32,697 students participated in on-site programs The total budget allocated to achieving Theme 2 at Cranbourne Gardens and Melbourne Gardens in in 2015–16 was $3.6 million, which included funding 2015–16, which was a comparatively similar to the for the core activities of the Royal Botanic Gardens number of students who participated in programs in Victoria that are related to this Theme. 2014–15. In addition, 824 teachers/adults participated Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria achieved the following in Professional Development programs run by the Budget Paper No.3 output performance measure in the Education Teams. 2015-16 reporting period: • A new online booking system was introduced in Table 10: Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria July 2015, making it easier for visitors, particularly performance against objectives international visitors, to book selected programs including the Aboriginal Heritage Walk, Harp in the Performance Number of visitors to the Gardens and the popular observatory program, Starry indicator Royal Botanic Gardens in Southern Skies. Melbourne and Cranbourne • An inventive interpretive trail was launched featuring 40 top eucalypts is helping visitors to Cranbourne Gardens make decisions about the best Eucalypts for home gardens. The trail is supported by online Unit of measure number resources with plant notes on each of the species, images, and fact sheets on selecting, planting and 2015–16 target 1,801,159 caring for eucalypts. 2015–16 actual 1.6 to 2.0 million • More than 15,000 visitors participated in visitor programs and events including the Boozy Botanicals, Variance % 0 Easter Hunt, Melbourne Observatory tours, guided Result  walks, NAIDOC celebrations, World’s Longest Regional

Lunch and the Australian Quilt and Textile Exhibition. Note (1).

= performance target achieved or exceeded or expected to be achieved.  = performance target not achieved – exceeds 5% variance.  = performance target not achieved. Within 5% variance.

VISITOR PROGRAMS As well as the many thousands of people who participated in formal programs at both the Cranbourne and Melbourne sites in 2015–16, many more visitors enjoyed informal interactions with Customer Service staff, Garden Ambassadors or Voluntary Guides while exploring the Gardens at their own pace. At Cranbourne Gardens 11,651 people enjoyed an audio tour of the Australian Garden, 1,019 people joined our knowledgeable Garden Ambassadors on a tour and 768 children participated in school holiday programs. Melbourne Gardens attracted more than 15,000 participants on popular public programs including the Aboriginal Heritage Walk and the Melbourne Observatory tours. These were complemented by featured public events including NAIDOC week celebrations at both sites, a Christmas Day Harp Concert and Open House Melbourne at Melbourne Gardens, and the annual Family Fun Day in January at Cranbourne Gardens. A suite of in-language brochures was produced for distribution to the many thousands of international visitors at Melbourne Gardens and translated into eight languages: Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Spanish.

Page 29 Tours and events ‘Science café’ programs In addition to seasonal visitor and education Two ‘Science café’ programs designed to appeal to programs, a number of special one-off events were a younger adult audience were trialled at Melbourne held at both sites to celebrate and raise awareness Gardens during the year. A Gin Pop-up Bar was held of the life-sustaining value of plants and the role they at Domain House in November in collaboration with play in our daily lives. In addition to on-site programs, the National Trust of Australia (Victoria). A master staff and volunteers contributed their skills and class was held in conjunction with the pop-up bar for expertise to off-site events including the Horticultural those patrons who were keen to learn more about the and Gardening Festival 2015 and the Melbourne importance of botanicals in gin production. Similarly, International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) the Boozy Botanicals pilot program was held in 2016, where they delivered nature-based activities partnership with Maidenii, an Australian Vermouth for children in partnership with the Nursery and company during autumn and winter. The program Gardens Industry of Victoria. included a 30-minute tasting of Maidenii’s and other Bioblitz 2016 cocktails at Jardin Tan, followed by a walk in Gardens The Gardens once again contributed to the City led by Professor Tim Entwisle and Mr Shaun Byrne of Melbourne’s annual Bioblitz program that of Maidenii. The walk and talk was designed to be a encourages the discovery of the diverse animal sensory experience, hearing the stories, touching and and plant species across the city and promotes smelling plant material, and tasting (non-alcoholic) the importance of ‘citizen science’ in fostering an drinks at designated stops around the Gardens. understanding of plant conservation and habitat. Indigenous programs Professor Tim Entwisle participated in a Melbourne In 2015–16, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria hosted a Conversation panel discussion – Nature in our Liveable number of programs and events to allow visitors to City: Past, Present and Future – to mark the launch of explore Aboriginal history, culture and traditions. Bioblitz 2016. Melbourne Gardens (Public Programs) At Melbourne Gardens, the annual NAIDOC celebration hosted a series of walks and talks including Moths in on 7 July 2015 saw 80 people enjoy a new NAIDOC the City, Bird Walk, ClimateWatch, Ants in the Gardens, family celebration trail, including a talk on native plants and QuestaGame. Data gathered through the Bioblitz by Sandra Hodge. Ben Church also took NAIDOC- program was uploaded to the Atlas of Living Australia. inspired tours on the Garden Explorer, which attracted ARCUE’s Dr Amy Hahs assisted the City of Melbourne a further 28 people. The popular Aboriginal Heritage in quantifying the structure of vegetation across Walk at Melbourne Gardens attracted more than 1,400 the municipality by developing a Rapid Assessment individual visitors as well as 3,002 individuals through Method to capture information about shrub and group tours during 2015–16. understorey vegetation. In July 2015 the Cranbourne Gardens provided a Regional World’s Longest Lunch stunning setting for NAIDOC week celebrations where The Elisabeth Murdoch Promenade was the setting staff worked with a range of community support and for the Regional World’s Longest Lunch at Cranbourne local government groups to provide visitor activities Gardens in March as part of the 2016 Melbourne Food focussed on the connection between Indigenous and Wine Festival. More than 100 guests enjoyed the culture and Australian plants. The strengthening of event, which was presented by the Sorrento Catering relationships as a result of the success of the inaugural Company, Cranbourne Gardens’ on-site caterer, and Cranbourne Gardens celebration in 2013 meant that featured local food and wine in a three-course feast. 2,500 members of our local Indigenous community Australian Quilt and Textile Exhibition attended the 3rd annual NAIDOC celebration in 2015. The fifth Australian Textile Exhibition was held at Eucalypts for your home garden Cranbourne Gardens in March. Hosted in conjunction A new interpretive program and trail was launched with Leesa Chandler of Chandler’s Cottage and the at Cranbourne Gardens on National Eucalypt Day Cranbourne Friends, the exhibition featured Australian in March. The program includes an interpretive trail flora and fauna-inspired quilts from all over Australia featuring 40 top eucalypt species growing in the as well as demonstrations by various quilting and textile Australian Garden and suitable for the home garden. experts. This annual exhibition is growing in popularity Online resources include plant notes on each of the and attracted 5,508 visitors. species, images, and fact sheets on selecting, planting and caring for eucalypts, as well as a series of instructional and informational YouTube videos. The Eucalypts for your home garden was developed with the support of the Bjarne K Dahl Trust.

Page 30 NATURE PLAY AND LEARNING Little Seeds Nature Playgroup Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria continued its An eight-week program of nature play activities for commitment to supporting schools, teachers, pre-school children between the ages of three and students and the broader school community with five years was launched by the Melbourne Gardens pedagogical developments in place-based learning. education team in February. The program is led by The Education Services team utilised the rich natural an early childhood specialist teacher, and children and cultural resources at both sites to provide participate in a selection of stories, songs, walks opportunities to enliven and enhance the learning of and gardening activities that aim to foster curiosity, students from kindergarten to tertiary study, as well wonder and respect for the natural world. Based on as provide teacher professional development and the understanding that ‘play’ is essentially children’s teachers’ resources. ‘work’, activities include helping with the seasonal harvest of crops in the Kitchen Garden, and collecting Schools Partnership Programs morning tea scraps to feed to the compost worms, At Melbourne Gardens, a year-long partnership as well as free play. with The Baltara School was completed. The fortnightly program for traumatised students Balee Koolin Bubup Bush Playgroup who require a high teacher-student ratio gave Following the injection of one-off funding of $7,000 students the opportunity to explore a range of sites in January from the Department of Education and and collections around the Gardens. Despite their Training, the Balee Koolin Bubup Bush Playgroup behavioural challenges, the children appeared to grow continued for a further year. The program has been in confidence, interest and knowledge as they gained developed as a partnership between Cranbourne skills and understanding in art, science and Indigenous Gardens, Casey-Cardinia Library Corporation’s Library cultural studies throughout the year. Has Legs Program and Boon Wurrung elder Aunty Fay Stewart Muir from the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation The partnership with St Joseph’s Primary School, for Languages (VACL). It caters for Aboriginal and Collingwood that commenced in Term Two of 2015 Torres Strait Islander children aged 0 to 4 and their with weekly visits to the Children’s Garden by 18 Year families and offers an early years’ Indigenous pedagogy Three students continued with the Cherry Ballart inspired by 68,000 years of traditional childrearing Program in 2016. The students are from diverse cultural practices, as well as providing nature-based backgrounds and have little or no access to green experiences that children share with their parents. The space in their school and local environment. The Cherry Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is currently identifying Ballart Program saw Gardens’ staff visit the school alternative funding to continue the program. to begin working with the teachers and students to establish a garden in the school grounds. Sustained and Enriched by Plants In its second year of triennial funding from the

Early Childhood Department of Education and Training, the Sustained Nature Play Week 2016 and Enriched by Plants education program saw the Cranbourne Gardens hosted the launch of Nature Play delivery of existing programs including Nature Play Week 2016 in April, with 100 participants attending. An and Learning, Connecting to Country, and Gardening initiative of the Kids in Nature Network, of which Royal for a Resilient Future. Botanic Gardens Victoria is a founding partner, the week was launched by award-winning children’s author Sustained and Enriched by Plants provides experiences and 2015 Senior Australian of the Year, Jackie French for students that are not achievable in a school setting. AM. Nature Play Week activities were hosted at both Students are able to intimately investigate plants sites. A seminar – Rewilding public spaces: facilitating and rich living landscapes through sensory, physical, nature play – was held at Cranbourne Gardens for emotional and social experiences, providing students professionals who have an interest in creating green with interactions with the natural world that are vital spaces for children. It was attended by 76 participants to students’ learning and wellbeing. Modules delivered and explored the importance of the outdoor playgroup through this program link across the curriculum and bush kinder movement for early childhood to Victorian Early Years Learning Development development; keynote speakers included Doug Fargher, Framework (VEYLDF) and the Australian Curriculum/ Clare Hart and Dr Julie Rudner. Victorian Essential Learning Standards (AusVELS). Modules cover priorities in Humanities, The Arts, Health and Physical Education, Civics and Citizenship, and Interpersonal Development and are most strongly aligned with Science, Environment and Sustainability.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 31 Professional Development It can now be seen on gate signage, map boards, Teacher Professional Development programs were the website, stationery and online templates, as well delivered at both sites with 225 teachers participating as the new uniforms that were issued to both staff and in programs at Cranbourne Gardens and 599 teachers volunteers. In addition, new Entry Orientation Shelter at Melbourne Gardens. Programs covered a range and Visitor Centre interpretive panels at Cranbourne of topics including nature play, field work in the Gardens were installed, and at Melbourne Gardens new curriculum, bush kinder, sustainable gardening and entry portals and Atrium signage was installed at the indigenous programs. Visitor Centre. Anecdotally, the visual identity has been Geography Teachers Association Victoria well received with overwhelmingly positive responses professional development from both key stakeholders and the general public. In February 2016, Education Services (Melbourne Talking Plants Gardens) partnered with the Geography Teachers Professor Tim Entwisle hosted a second summer Association Victoria to deliver a seminar to about season of Talking Plants on ABC Radio National. 60 teachers on Indigenous culture, climate change, Based on his popular weekly Talking Plants blog habitat ecology and Working Wetlands in the Gardens. (talkingplants.blogspot.com.au), he collaborated on Excellent feedback was received, and in May Professor the six part season with garden designer Jim Fogarty. Tim Entwisle was invited be part of a panel at the Topics under discussion included invasive weeds, plant Association’s annual Patron’s Function. communication, saving the world and fake plants. As a respected science communicator, Professor COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Entwisle contributes to a number of forums including AND ACCESS ABC Radio National with regular contributions to Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria seeks to actively Blueprint for Living and a co-hosting role with Mathew engage with the community on-site and online to Crawford for a pop-up show In Season, with each promote the importance of plants to life through the episode focussed on one of Professor Entwisle’s five development of interpretive programs, communications Australian seasons. material and social media channels. As well, it continued to support a number of groups throughout HORTICULTURAL LEARNING the year by providing access to venues and program AND EXCELLENCE assistance. The Gardens committed to providing equal Through generous donations, Melbourne Gardens access for all, as outlined in the Access Action Plan Horticulture staff had the opportunity to undertake 2011–2015. a range of learning and development initiatives. School Garden Awards 2015 These included participation in Victorian fern collecting In November the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria trips; travel to Oman Botanic Gardens to provide again hosted the Victorian School Garden Awards information and expertise on controlled environment in conjunction with the Nursery and Garden Industry (glasshouse) and plant management; attending the Association of Victoria and Catholic Education New Zealand Plant Conservation Network (NZPCN) Melbourne. Students from over 50 schools attended conference to aid the management of the New Zealand the event, involving over 350 students, which included collection; and visiting the Wittunga Botanic Gardens an official awards ceremony, roving performers, and Waite Arboretum to study dry land plants and tours of The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden their management to aid management of the Southern and environmentally-themed student activities. Africa and Australian Forest Walk collection. Monash University Partnership app Biel Bik During the year, Melbourne Gardens also hosted Work continued on developing the Biel Bik app its first two Horticultural Internship students as suitable for secondary school students. The Biel Bik part of the horticultural Internship program. program is a partnership between Melbourne Gardens The Internship Program is a seasonal program that Education Team, Monash University and the Victorian is unpaid, practically based and ‘hands on’, and Aboriginal Corporation for Languages. The app will provides a great learning opportunity in one of the have curriculum links to secondary level Geography, world’s finest botanic gardens. Science, History and VCE Tourism studies. Plant At Cranbourne Gardens, in the experimental display information and content was completed for the first area of the Australian Garden, the next stage of the five stops. As part of the project, Boon Wurrung Elder Woody Meadow Project commenced with coppicing Aunty Fay provided Boon Wurrung language (hard pruning) trials. This research project is part of a and sound recordings of spoken language. broader international study and is being undertaken The app is due to be trialled in schools in late 2016. by Horticulture Technician Ahmed Ashraf towards Visual identity implementation program a Masters of Urban Horticulture. His worked was Following the development and launch of a new visual supported by a 2016 Maud Gibson Trust Elisabeth identity and brandmark in 2014–15, the distinctive Murdoch Scholarship. identity was progressively rolled-out across the organisation and at both sites in line with the regular maintenance and replacement schedule.

Page 32 LOOKING AHEAD Program highlights include a three-day symposium Botanic and Rare Plant Fair – Royal Botanic Gardens with expert horticulturists and botanists and the Victoria, Melbourne Friends and The Diggers Club are Growing Friends Plant Sale. hosting the inaugural Botanic and Rare Plant Fair at Circle exhibition – Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Melbourne Gardens in October. The fair will celebrate will host the Melbourne-leg of the Circle travelling rare and unusual plants with panel discussions, tours, exhibition in autumn 2017. The exhibition, by award- specialist plant stalls, the Growing Friends’ spring plant winning children’s author and artist Jeannie Baker, sale and behind-the-scenes tours of the Herbarium will feature illustrations from her recently published and the Nursery. children’s picture book, which tells the story of Kangaroo Paw Festival – In November, a month- the world’s remaining wetlands. Other elements long celebration at Cranbourne Gardens, held in of the exhibition will highlight Melbourne Gardens’ association with the Cranbourne Friends, will feature Working Wetlands project, the interdependency and the iconic Kangaroo Paw. The Australian Garden will connectedness of living things, and the need to raise be transformed with mass Kangaroo Paw displays. awareness about habitat and biodiversity loss.

OVERVIEW OF SPECIFIC ACTIONS AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES Long-term strategy 2.1: More people knowing about us and visiting us, taking home our key messages and vision Specific actions Progress against deliverables and performance measures 2.1.1 Develop and implement a • A draft Communications Strategy is well under way, with Communications Strategy for completion expected by August 2016 the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria that reflects our new vision

2.1.2 Implement a new visual identity Visual identity system fully implemented, including: system for the Royal Botanic • distribution of new staff uniforms, identification Gardens Victoria badges and lapel pins • installation of decals at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria gift shops at both sites • progressive updating of brochures incorporating new branding and redesign • installation of Melbourne Gardens’ safety and operational signs

Long-term strategy 2.2: Creating more opportunities for people to encounter our plants and landscapes Specific actions Progress against deliverables and performance measures

2.2.1 Develop and implement an Events • Deferred until 2016–17 due to the departure of Project Manager Strategy to increase revenue and (Major Events) and recruitment to vacancy being completed participation, and to raise our profile in June 2016 as a cultural space equal to museums and galleries by 30 June 2016 Implement ‘Caring for Country’ • Year 1 program implemented, with one Indigenous Indigenous Secondary Student student completing the Internship in December 2015 Internship program to provide • Year 2 program in progress, with students being identified increased access to RBGV expertise for placement in 2016–17 and facilities

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 33 Long-term strategy 2.3: Creating a science communication and promotion hub in Observatory Gate Specific actions Progress against deliverables and performance measures 2.3.1 Pilot ‘Science Café’ event at Two ‘Science Café’ programs were trialled. Melbourne Gardens • In partnership with the National Trust, a Gin Pop-up Bar event was held at Domain House, including a ‘Master Class’ • A Boozy Botanicals program was trialled during autumn/winter 2016

Long-term strategy 2.4: Encouraging horticultural learning and excellence Specific actions Progress against deliverables and performance measures 2.4.1 Establish a horticultural internship • Pilot program successfully completed, with the first program by 30 June 2017 two placements occurring between December 2015 and February 2016 • Feedback has now been incorporated and website information updated for the 2016–17 program

Long-term strategy 2.5: Actively promoting plant happenings and discoveries Specific actions Progress against deliverables and performance measures 2.5.1 Develop and implement the • Development of a secondary education-focussed program Virtual Botanic Garden – apps, using augmented reality technology is 85 per cent complete, social media and better access with an app scheduled to be trialled in schools by to all our plant-related database 31 December 2016 information – by 30 June 2019 • Development and delivery of the Dahl Trust Eucalypts for your home garden program completed and launched on National Eucalypt Day in March

Page 34 Theme 3: Creating special places

We will expand partnerships through sharing knowledge and expertise on how to build amazing experiences and places, and developing new gardens because when everyone connects more deeply with plants, our lives are improved. (Corporate Plan 2014–2019)

Above: Botanical illustration from the Wehl collection, held in the State Botanical Collection

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 35 AT A GLANCE YEAR IN REVIEW • The William Tell Rest House and the Lake View The total budget allocated to achieving Theme 3 Shelter at Melbourne Gardens were rebuilt in 2015–16 was $7.9 million, which included funding following an arson attack in 2014. for the core activities of the Royal Botanic Gardens • Michael Leunig, a much-loved cartoonist, artist, Victoria that are related to this Theme. philosopher and poet planted a rare North African LIVING COLLECTIONS AND desert cypress Cupressus dupreziana at Melbourne Gardens in October, the 104th commemorative tree LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT planting in a program that dates back to the 1860s. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria maintains its sites It was the second in a contemporary series that and living collections to the highest curatorial honours individuals who have made a long-lasting standards, conserving biodiversity, landscape, contribution to the cultural life of Australia. horticultural and heritage values. • Following the demise of the historic Separation Planning and Development Tree at Melbourne Gardens in early 2015, a brief Work progressed on a number of operational and was developed to commission a sculptural strategic plans for both the Cranbourne and Melbourne installation using the existing tree and original sites. The Melbourne Gardens Buildings Master Plan site to create something of beauty, that has was completed and a Signage Strategy and Manual for longevity, and that reflects the tree’s life and both sites was developed. The Cranbourne Gardens significance. A complementary object is planned Master Plan was completed and work began on a new for Parliament House, subject to further discussions. Melbourne Gardens Master Plan ten years after the final review of the last Master Plan. In addition, work began on developing plans for a new Herbarium building, with the finalisation of specifications for inclusion in future funding proposals. Professor Tim Entwisle continued to promote the major projects in the forthcoming capital campaign, particularly the ‘Science and Arts Precinct’ (including a new herbarium and the restored Great Melbourne Telescope) and a new iconic glasshouse. Cranbourne Gardens Master Plan Following finalisation of the Master Plan Engagement Strategy, the Ideas Gathering Phase commenced in October 2015 and continued through to mid- January 2016. This phase utilised online community engagement through a web portal to gather feedback and ideas from participants. A communications campaign was implemented to promote and encourage community participation. Facilitated workshops for targeted groups were also held during this phase and involved the Senior Leaders Group, Cranbourne divisional staff, Cranbourne Master Gardener volunteers, the Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria, Maud Gibson Trust representatives and Cranbourne Friends committee, and a selection of City of Casey officers. Although the response rate to the online community engagement phase was lower than hoped, over 1,500 ideas were collated by Capire Consultants into an Ideas Plan that informed the drafting of the Cranbourne Gardens Master Plan. The final text version of the Master Plan has now been completed and will be ready for publication in November 2016. Fern Gully Redevelopment Project Plans were drafted for two of the three health and well-being gardens in Fern Gully, with a number of donors expressing interest in sponsoring the spaces. All gardens will offer visitors the opportunity to find a quiet place for contemplation. The Fern Gully Rest House and the current bamboo garden are also being explored as an all abilities garden surrounding the refurbished structure. Living Collections Management BOTANIC GARDENS At Melbourne Gardens, work continued on CAPACITY BUILDING rejuvenating the Eel Bridge Precinct extending Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria remains committed along to the newly-rebuilt William Tell Rest House to the highest standards of botanic gardens with completion of a planting design for the area management. In this regard, Royal Botanic Gardens focussing on plants from Mediterranean climates and Victoria strengthened its partnerships with its regional, set out in the Gardenesque style. Hard landscaping state, national and international partners by establishing works were installed in late 2015 and planting was collegiate relationships with other botanic gardens completed in mid-2016, with over 1,000 individual in the interests of sharing knowledge and expertise, plants installed. The Observatory Building beds were and learning from the experience and understanding transformed from turf to plants, with over 150 plants of its partners. selected for their ability to cope with dry conditions. This work was completed in late 2015. International staff exchange Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria signed a staff Arid Garden redesign and collection development exchange agreement with the National Parks Board Site concept plans for the redevelopment of the Singapore, who manage the Singapore Botanic Arid Garden at Melbourne Gardens were completed. Gardens and Gardens by the Bay. The program aims Fortuitously, and in preparation for the Arid Garden to foster professional development for staff from both redevelopment, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria signed organisations by providing opportunities for participants an agreement for procurement of arid and succulent to gain experience in another botanical institution, plant material from an historic collection in country allow peer collaboration on living plant collection Victoria. This collection of rare and unusual plants curation and management, and facilitate skill is part of the original Blossfeld expedition to South development through exposure to different techniques, America in 1935. Horticulture and Nursery staff at methodologies and expertise. As part of this agreement, Melbourne Gardens undertook several collecting trips Melbourne Gardens Co-ordinator Horticulture, to the property to collect this rare, mature and unusual Neil Perkins, visited Singapore in June, where he arid plant material, the provenance of 80 per cent of studied horticultural and glasshouse management which can be traced to the Blossfeld expedition. and collections curation. As part of this reciprocal In all, more than 1,000 plants were collected, with arrangement, a staff member from the National Parks 150 new accessions entered onto the Royal Botanic Board Singapore will visit Melbourne Gardens Gardens Victoria database. The plant material will be in September. grown on, with a view to introducing it to the Arid Garden as part of the redevelopment project. Global Gardens of Peace The Ian Potter Lakeside Precinct replanting project Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria continued its The plantings and growing conditions in The Ian international support of the Global Gardens of Peace Potter Lakeside Precinct at the Australian Garden Children’s Garden project in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip. were reassessed due to underperformance of the Two senior Melbourne Gardens’ staff, Landscape original plantings as a result of poor drainage and Architect Andrew Laidlaw and Senior Curator Peter difficult growing conditions. The precinct was Symes, continued to champion the project. replanted during the year with 2,177 new plants They contributed their expertise to the development including Acacia fimbriata, Banksia ericifolia and of a funding proposal, costed at AUD8 million, that Banksia spinulosa forms, Banksia robur and a diverse was submitted to the United Nations Development range of Callistemon, Hibiscus and Melaleuca species. Program. It is understood this proposal has made The new plants were selected based on the original preliminary progress towards approval, but funding design intent but also for their suitability to the is yet to be sourced. prevailing soil conditions. Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand Inc. (BGANZ) Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria staff continued to be actively involved in BGANZ, holding executive positions on BGANZ including Cranbourne Gardens Horticulture Manager John Arnott as Chair of BGANZ Vic, Chair of the Diversity and Demographics Working Group, and as the Victorian representative and Vice President on the BGANZ National Council; Cranbourne Gardens Public Programs Manager Sharon Willoughby as Chair of the Botanic Gardens Education Network, and with Professor Tim Entwisle as executive members of BGANZ Vic. In addition, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria staff attended two BGANZ Network meetings and made regular contributions to BGANZ’s magazine, the BOTANIC GARDENer. In June, Ms Willoughby was invited to represent the BGANZ National Council at the American Public Gardens Association conference in Miami, USA.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 37 A number of staff attended the 7th biennial BGANZ which was completed by Melbourne Gardens Congress held in Wollongong in October and Horticultural Technician David Roberts. The feasibility contributed to the Congress proceedings by making study is due to be completed in December. Ms May presentations and running workshops. These included will undertake a study tour of botanic gardens in New workshops by Professor Entwisle and Ms Willoughby South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory to on Connecting via Social Media, and by Education investigate wild food plant collections in September. Co-ordinator Mick Robertson on Carbon Futures – Recipients of the Melbourne Friends Scholarship a Royal Botanic Gardens Partnership with OneSEED. included Melbourne Gardens Curator New Zealand Other contributions included presentations on Why Collection and Horticulture Technician Kate Roud Social Inclusion Matters When Creating Genuine who visited New Zealand to study native flora in Community Partnerships? (Ms Willoughby), An Orchid its cultivated and natural environments and the Conservation Partnership for South-Eastern Australia care requirements of flora. Cranbourne Gardens (Professor Entwisle), a talk – Separation Anxiety – Co-ordinator Horticulture Charlie Firth attended the by Melbourne Gardens Arborist James Shugg on the 2nd International Conference on Urban Tree Diversity, demise of the historic Separation Tree, and a joint and undertook professional development training presentation by Mr Arnott on Databases for in Quantitative Tree Risk Assessment (QTRA), Regional Gardens. Visual Tree Assessment (VTA), and Safe Tree Scholarship schemes Climbing and Aerial Rescue. Two annual scholarship schemes – the Melbourne Friends Scholarship and the Maud Gibson Trust LOOKING AHEAD Elisabeth Murdoch Scholarship – allow staff to extend Glasshouse Project – a staff workshop with a leading their networks and further their knowledge on research glasshouse designer is planned for late 2016 to explore and study tours. plans for a new glasshouse at Melbourne Gardens. Maud Gibson Trust Elisabeth Murdoch Scholarship Melbourne Gardens Master Plan – A consultative recipients for 2016 from Cranbourne Gardens included master planning process will commence in August Horticulture Manager John Arnott and Horticulture 2016 to guide the development and management Technician Nikki May. Mr Arnott received funding of the Melbourne Gardens for the next 20 years. for a feasibility study into establishing a Victorian Science and Art Precinct – Concept plans will Regional Conservation Collection of Victorian rare be developed to incorporate the new herbarium and threatened species. This work is on the back of an and Great Melbourne Telescope into an inspiring assessment undertaken of the horticultural potential of and exciting space for the promotion of the State’s rare and threatened plants, ‘observational’ science.

OVERVIEW OF SPECIFIC ACTIONS AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES Long-term strategy 3.1: Highlighting, circumscribing and promoting our key living collections Specific actions Progress against deliverables and performance measures 3.1.1 Develop a whole-of-site signage • Draft strategy was developed and was due to be strategy for Melbourne Gardens submitted to the Executive Team for ratification in July 2016 Design and install signage at • Installation of entry gate mapboards, operational and Melbourne Gardens reflecting our safety signage reflecting the new identity at Melbourne new visual identity by 30 June 2016 Gardens is complete

Long-term strategy 3.2: Contributing to botanic gardens capacity building projects around the world Specific actions Progress against deliverables and performance measures 3.2.1 Contribute to success of BGANZ • RBGV continued to contribute to BGANZ; positions held Council, BGANZ Vic, Botanic included Chair of BGANZ Vic; Victorian representative Gardens Education Network and on BGANZ Council; Chair Botanic Gardens Education Botanic Gardens Records Officer Officer Network; and Chair Diversity and Demographics Network forums Working Group • RBGV staff attended BGANZ Network meetings (City of Casey, September 2015 and Werribee, March 2016)

Page 38 Long-term strategy 3.3: Completing the Royal Botanic Gardens – Cranbourne picture Specific actions Progress Against Deliverables and Performance Measures 3.3..1 Develop and commence • Draft Masterplan (text only) approved by the Royal Botanic implementing the full-site Master Gardens Board Victoria on 28 June 2016 Plan for Cranbourne Gardens by • Public release is scheduled for late 2016 30 June 2016 Complete development of Australian • Curatorial Plans completed for key Australian Garden precincts Garden Precinct Curatorial Plans • Completion of all plans by June 2017

Long-term strategy 3.4: Developing the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Melbourne site Specific actions Progress Against Deliverables and Performance Measures 3.4.1 Confirm and complete future • Requirements were confirmed and a Business Case submitted requirements for the new Herbarium to Government on 2 December 2015 and develop Business Case for Government 3.4.2 Prepare the site concept plan, which • Concept plan was developed and submitted to the will guide the development of major Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria for approval on structural elements (such as new 23 February 2016 Herbarium, Observatory Gate 2 and • Building Master Plan was endorsed by the Royal Botanic new glasshouse) Gardens Board Victoria on 16 March 2016

Long-term strategy 3.6: Landscapes, living collections and horticulture all of high quality and shared widely Specific actions Progress Against Deliverables and Performance Measures 3.6.2 Create new Fern Gully landscape at • Design documentation for Stage 2 of the Fern Gully Melbourne Gardens to inspire and Restoration Project completed reinvigorate by 30 June 2019

3.6.3 Create new Arid Garden at • Site concept plan for the new Arid Garden completed Melbourne Gardens to demonstrate garden alternatives in a dry climate by 30 June 2019

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 39 Theme 4: Towards a sustainable future

We will demonstrate sustainable and environmentally responsible practices, living up to our new values and building the capacity to achieve our new vision and mission. (Corporate Plan 2014–2019)

Above: Botanical illustration from the Wehl collection, held in the State Botanical Collection

Page 40 AT A GLANCE YEAR IN REVIEW • Melbourne Gardens celebrated the 170th anniversary The total budget allocated to achieving Theme 4 of its foundation on 16 March with a view to the next in 2015–16 was $5.4 million, which included funding century by launching the Landscape Succession or the core activities of the Royal Botanic Gardens Strategy. The original Melbourne Botanic Gardens Victoria that are related to this Theme. were founded on 16 March 1846 when land was set Foundation aside on the south bank of the Yarra. At the start of July, the previously-named Development • To protect the Melbourne Gardens in a changing Branch became the Foundation Branch to more clearly climate, the Landscape Succession Strategy will guide align itself with the Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation the transition of Melbourne Gardens’ living collections Victoria, which was established in 2001 as the Gardens’ and landscape from existing plantings to a composition main fundraising body. Funds raised by the Foundation more suited to the projected climate and environmental supplement Victorian Government support, and conditions of 2090. during the year fundraising and revenue generation • State Botanical Collection specimens were used as efforts focussed on supporting two major projects inspiration to create two new retail product ranges: – the Foreign Collections Project and the Fern Gully handmade Italian silk accessories created in Restoration Project. partnership with Henry Bucks and a Vintage range The Foreign Collections Project aims to complete the of hand-crafted ceramics in partnership with Samantha mounting, databasing and imaging of an estimated Robinson. Algal specimens were transformed by textile 400,000 historically and botanically significant plant artist Tamara Schneider for the Henry Bucks range, specimens held in the State Botanical Collection. and botanical illustrations by Euphemia Henderson Completion of this work will allow physical and were applied to create delicate homewares by electronic access to the Collection for researchers Samantha Robinson. (botanists, historians), land managers and government agencies. A funding grant of $40,000 per year over three years from the Foundation supported appointment of a curation officer and a further $127,000 was raised during the year to support a second curation officer for this project. The Fern Gully Restoration Project progressed, with Stages 1 and 2 of the project now fully funded. The successful completion and launch of Stage 1 generated considerable public interest and support, and provided a platform for support of Stage 2 fundraising for the Fern Gully Health and Wellbeing spaces. Efforts are now focussed on generating funds for Stage 3, restoration of Fern Gully Rest House and surrounding garden, with the aim of raising $200,000 to complete the Fern Gully restoration.

Page 41 Campaign planning ORGANISATION STRUCTURE REVIEW Planning and development work for the launch of Phase One of the Organisation Structure Review a major Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria fundraising commenced with advertising of a Registration of campaign continued. The focus of the campaign – Interest in August and, following submission of Discover Life – is to support the Gardens’ vision that quotes, Bendelta was appointed as the consultant. ‘Life is sustained and enriched by plants’ and will The project brief is to review the current structure generate funds for projects outlined in the Gardens’ and propose options for alternative structures looking Corporate Plan. Key elements of the campaign were at the allocation of resources, roles and responsibilities presented and trialled at an event to promote the new as aligned to the Corporate Plan. As part of this Herbarium in early June, with the intention of refining process, Bendelta conducted a survey of staff, focus it over time. A Campaign Council was established with groups and one-on-one interviews. Findings from representatives from staff, Royal Botanic Gardens Phase One were presented to staff and key Victoria Foundation, Melbourne Friends, Cranbourne stakeholders in April. An interim structure for the Friends and Maud Gibson Trust with the first meeting next three years and the executive-level groupings scheduled for early July. Priorities for the remainder and positions were outlined. Key outcomes of Phase of 2016 and first half of 2017 were identified and will One were merging of the ARCUE and Plant Sciences include development of promotional material for the and Biodiversity divisions to form a new whole-of- campaign and major projects (including some concept organisation Science Division, as well as creation of a work for the Observatory Science and Art Precinct new interim division ‘Public Engagement and Business and new Herbarium). Marketing of projects (such Development’. Work proceeded on reviewing the next as the new Herbarium and surrounding precinct) to levels down and it is expected the review of the entire existing and new supporters will continue. ‘First-touch’ organisation will be completed by December 2016. engagement with Director’s Circle and VIP supporters as well as with Government and philanthropic SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE Foundations commenced. A project to significantly MANAGEMENT increase the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s contact Environmental sustainability underscores the Royal database is scheduled for the latter half of 2016. Botanic Gardens Victoria’s operations. To this end, the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria has in place INFORMATION SYSTEMS a number of policies, including the Environmental Information Systems are managed across both the Stewardship Policy and the Living Collections Cranbourne and Melbourne sites and include finance and Biosecurity Policy, and applies ecologically and business systems as well as the management sustainable development principles in the planning of extensive horticultural and botanical databases. and development of major infrastructure projects. ICT Strategy development The Environmental Stewardship Policy identifies Following completion of the ICT (Information and three core areas where the organisation can contribute Communications Technology) Strategy in June 2015, most to environmental stewardship: Biodiversity an ICT Steering Committee was established to oversee and Ecology, Community Engagement, and implementation of the Strategy. The first stage ICT its Landscapes. implementation saw successful completion of the The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria recorded data network IP (internet protocol) address project in on domestic and irrigation water use, waste recycling November 2015. The Server Migration project, switching and reuse, organic green waste processing and energy from Novell eDirectory to Microsoft Active directory consumption, and remains committed to responsible servers, was completed in April 2016 and plans for resource use to minimise its carbon footprint. transition of the Groupwise email system to Outlook were well advanced for transition as scheduled in August 2016.

Page 42 Landscape Succession Strategy Environmental Horticulture and the Horticulture The Landscape Succession Strategy – Landscape Branch continued supplementary maintenance Succession Strategy, Melbourne Gardens 2016–2036: on the constructed and floating treatment adapting a world-renowned botanical landscape to wetlands at Melbourne Gardens to maintain climate change – was launched in March. It provides water treatment performance. a guide to managing the Melbourne Gardens landscape Waste management in the face of climate change and sets out achievable Waste minimisation and management programs are steps to guide the transition of Melbourne Gardens in place at both Cranbourne Gardens and Melbourne from existing plantings to a composition more suited Gardens and included green organic processing, to the projected climate and environmental conditions co-mingled waste and paper and cardboard recycling, of 2090. Underpinning the Strategy is a commitment with a proportion of waste also going to landfill. to preserving the heritage character of Melbourne’s much-loved botanic gardens for future generations, At Cranbourne Gardens, approximately 51 tonnes of and it is considered to be one of the first strategies green waste and 10 tonnes of co-mingled waste, paper of its kind developed for a botanic garden. Following and cardboard were recycled; 10.6 tonnes of public the local launch, one of the key authors of the Strategy, and gardens waste went to landfill. Approximately 630 Melbourne Gardens Curator Environmental Horticulture kilograms of organic waste from the staff lunchroom Mr Peter Symes, presented a paper on the Strategy at was processed and converted to compost. the 6th International Conference on Landscape and At Melbourne Gardens, 131 tonnes of co-mingled waste Urban Horticulture in Athens. The Strategy has been and 3.6 tonnes of cardboard and paper were recycled, well-received and acknowledged for its forward thinking and 1,200 cubic metres of green waste were processed. and planning. A further 32,152 tonnes of public waste and 50 tonnes Water and irrigation of general office and gardens’ waste (unmulched green Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria remains committed waste, soil and building materials) went to landfill. to reducing its use of mains water. To this end, Energy management Melbourne Gardens has achieved significant benefits Electricity usage at Cranbourne Gardens was 370,880 from the Working Wetlands. kilowatt hours, representing an increase of 7.5 per cent About 15 ML of stormwater was used for irrigation from the 2014–15 year. Melbourne Gardens recorded in 2015–16 compared to 31 ML during 2014–15. Only an increase of 6.9 per cent from 2014–15 with 780,947 464 mm of rainfall was recorded in 2015–16, which was kilowatt hours of electricity used, which included subsequent to similar well below average rainfall of operation of the Working Wetlands’ infrastructure. 431 mm for 2014–15. While rainfall was slightly higher For 2015–16, the total energy consumption of than the previous financial year, the below average operating Working Wetlands’ infrastructure (irrigation winter-spring rainfall during 2015–16, which was likely pump station, water treatment and recirculation due to the El Nino phenomenon, resulted in significantly pumps) was estimated at 116 megawatt hours (MWh). less stormwater yields. Annual irrigation water use Photovoltaic supply to the grid was measured at equated to 122 ML or 75 litres per visitor per year 73 MWh or about a 63 per cent offset of Working compared to 123 ML in 2014–14. Melbourne Gardens’ Wetlands’ electrical power consumption. domestic water consumption was recorded at 8.9 ML. Gas consumption at Melbourne Gardens was The Working Wetlands project has improved water recorded at 5,141,363 megajoules, a 20 per cent quality in the lake system at Melbourne Gardens with increase from 2014–15. More than half of this is a sustained reduction in nutrient levels (compared to used for heating glasshouses, with the remainder the 2002–12 baseline, representing about a 90 per mostly used for heating the main buildings. cent reduction in bioavailable phosphorous and about a 60 per cent reduction in bioavailable nitrogen), and LOOKING AHEAD outbreaks of blue-green algae have remained at low ICT Strategy – the next phase is scheduled for August levels compared to the previous decade. 2016 with migration from the Groupwise email system to the Outlook email system Water consumption at Cranbourne Gardens was recorded at 39.7 ML, representing an overall 16 per Organisation Structure Review – analysis of the cent increase in water consumption from 2014–15. non-executive levels will continue, with completion The majority of this increase (17 per cent) was as of the Review expected by 31 December 2016. a result of additional irrigation requirements due to an unseasonally warm spring and an extended dry period over summer and early autumn. In terms of overall water consumption, 92 per cent can be attributed to irrigation requirements. Annual wateruse in 2015–16 equated to 223 litres per visitor.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 43 OVERVIEW OF SPECIFIC ACTIONS AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES Long-term strategy 4.1: Developing an organisational structure and culture to meet our vision Specific actions Progress against deliverables and performance measures 4.1.1 Review our support organisations and • Meetings were held with both Friends’ groups and stakeholder groups to maximise their agreement reached on changing their names to align contribution to our vision with the new Visual Identity • Concepts for new logos were presented and will be considered by the executives of both groups early in the 2016-17 financial year • Preliminary consultations were held with both Friends’ groups with the view to publishing a new organisation-wide magazine 4.1.2 Review organisational structures • Functional analysis in progress as of 31 December 2015 to best deliver the Corporate Plan • Level 2 structure completed and Level 3 structural objectives, and to fulfil our new vision development well under way and mission by 30 June 2017 • Levels 4 and 5 structures scheduled for July to September 2016

Implement outcomes of Enterprise • EA 2014 was approved by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) on Agreement (EA) 2014 9 December 2015 and came into effect from 16 December 2015; implementation commenced • All salary increases and adjustments, including back-payments to 16 December 2015, were paid

• Work continued to ensure Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria practices, including in terms of Work Hours arrangements and time recording, were in line with EA 2014

Long-term strategy 4.2: Creating sustainable landscapes Specific actions Progress against deliverables and performance measures 4.2.2 Achieve 100 per cent recycled water • Business Case submitted to Government on 27 November 2015 for irrigation on both sites by 31 • Ongoing banking of water in the soil has proved successful over December 2018, pending funding the year 4.2.3 Implement key priorities of Melbourne • Site map indicating ‘mapping’ priorities produced Gardens’ Landscape Succession Plan • 100 per cent living plant collections mapped by 30 June 2019

Page 44 Long-term strategy 4.3: Developing a sustainable business Specific actions Progress against deliverables and performance measures 4.3.1 Implement the Information and • Online tour bookings went live in September 2015 Communication Technology (ICT) • The IP address project was completed in November 2015 Strategy • The Microsoft exchange server project commenced, with Active Directory setup completed • Online bookings generated over $18,000 from 1 September 2015 to 30 June 2016, mainly for the Aboriginal Heritage Walk • The Network has been running on Microsoft Exchange since 1 April 2016; a new email archiving software called ‘Retain’, was implemented in June 2016 • The Outlook email system will replace the Groupwise email system in August 2016 Develop a whole-of-organisation • Quiet phase planning has been completed, with roll-out fundraising campaign under way including development of staff structure and communications • The Campaign story is being presented to supporters and a Campaign Assistant has been employed • Next steps in the Campaign to be rolled out during late 2016 are as follows: • Campaign Council established • Campaign Communication Co-ordinator to be employed • Staff Campaign education process to commence

Tender lease opportunity • The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria approved the Tender currently held by Peter Rowland Evaluation Panel’s recommendation at its meeting on 28 June at Gardens House 2016, subject to Governor-in-Council approval

Review RBGV’s Occupational • Hazard Management Plan developed at Cranbourne Gardens; Health and Safety (OHS) in progress at Melbourne Gardens management system • Provider selected to develop Learning Management System • Safety Toolkit remains under development Implement an online timesheet • Tender process completed and specialist Payroll and leave record keeping and provider selected payment system • Implementation will take place in first quarter 2016–17

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 45 Our Supporters

‘We at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria are custodians of a significant cultural and scientific organisation. With collections, expertise and trust amassed over nearly 170 years, we have the capacity, and the responsibility, to bring a world of plant knowledge and inspiration to our visitors. It is only with the support of those around us that we can achieve positive change in thinking whereby the vital role of plants will be understood and appreciated by the community.’ - Professor Tim Entwisle

Temple of the Winds, Melbourne Gardens GENEROUS FINANCIAL SUPPORT Anonymous (2) The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria sincerely thanks Miss Betty Amsden AO DSJ the individuals, businesses, community groups, Australasian Native Orchid Society (Victorian Group) Inc government entities and philanthropic trusts and Ms Judy Backhouse foundations that generously supported its work in 2015–16. Bosisto’s Eucalyptus The financial support received by the Royal Botanic Mr Philip Brass and Mrs Vivien Brass Gardens Victoria plays an important role in helping Calvert-Jones Foundation the organisation achieve its strategic priorities. Charles and Cornelia Goode Foundation Ongoing support from our committed donors has CSL Limited been particularly critical for the significant Gardens development, landscape, horticultural and scientific Cybec Foundation projects that have been in progress during 2015–16. Finkel Foundation Donations received during the year went to projects Friends of Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne Inc including the Fern Gully Restoration Project, the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne Inc Foreign Collection Project, and various smaller science, Friends of Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne Trust Fund horticulture and education projects. Further to this, organisations that provided research grants are Mr Charles Goode AC and Mrs Cornelia Goode acknowledged on page 51 of this report. Mr Brian J Little This list records contributions of $1,000 and over in the Mr George Littlewood and Mrs Ann Littlewood 2015–16 financial year, excluding those made through Maud Gibson Trust the Director’s Circle program (see page 49). Nell & Hermon Slade Trust Mr Martin Owen and Mrs Susan Owen Mr Tom Park and Mrs Cathy Park Betsy and Ollie Polasek Endowment Reece Pty Ltd Prof Arthur Shulkes and Mrs Merrill Shulkes The Stuart Leslie Foundation NS & JS Turnbull

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 47 Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation Victoria Maud Gibson Trust The Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation Victoria was The Maud Gibson Trust was established in 1945 established in May 2001, with the goal of providing with a donation from Miss Maud Gibson for the the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria with a secure maintenance, development, or otherwise for the source of future income from the investment of benefit of the Botanic Gardens. The Trust facilitated bequests, seat sponsorships, Director’s Circle donations the initial purchase of land to establish Cranbourne and general donations. Members of the Foundation Gardens and has continued to take an influential role Board during 2015–16 were: Gillian Hund (Chair), Ken in the development of that site, including the creation Harrison AM, Elaine Canty AM, Adrienne Clarke AC, of the multi-award-winning Australian Garden. Misha Prusa, Professor Tim Entwisle (Secretary). It has also encouraged and supported botanical The Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation Victoria research and educational programs for many years has Deductible Gift Recipient (Item 2) status and at Melbourne Gardens. The Maud Gibson Trust is endorsed as an Income Tax Exempt Fund. supported the following projects at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria during the year: During the year, the Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation Victoria continued to manage its capital base and • Carbon accounting for managed urban environments enhance its capacity to provide long-term financial • Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Scholarships support to the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. • Digitisation of herbarium sheets for VicFlora To support this strategic intent the Foundation Board • Forthcoming Kangaroo Paw Celebration at made the decision to engage Perpetual as managers Cranbourne Gardens of the capital base providing increased certainty and growth opportunities. While continuing to build its capacity, the Foundation was able to make The Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation Victoria larger distributions to more projects because of the greatly values and appreciates the commitment and continued growth of the capital base. The support contributions of all of its supporters. In addition to of our donors makes it possible to provide grants all those listed on the previous page under Generous toward the following projects: ongoing databasing Financial Support, the Foundation wishes to of the Foreign collection in the State Botanical acknowledge the following people and organisations, Collection, the Pauline Ladiges Joint Fellowship with and their significant contributions during 2015–16: Melbourne University, camera traps for ecological work Anonymous (7) undertaken by the Australian Research Centre for Ms Liz Balogh Urban Ecology, and numerous other smaller projects Bank of Melbourne across the Gardens. Ms Laurie Bebbington and Ms Elizabeth O’Keeffe The Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation Victoria Mrs Meg Bentley also became Trustee for the Maud Gibson Trust Mr Tony Berger and Ms Marita Quinn during the year. Maud Gibson Trust is a public ancillary Mrs Tamara Boldiston and Mr Mark Boldiston fund, which is required to make annual distributions to the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. The request Mr Philip Brass and Mrs Vivien Brass from the Maud Gibson Trust committee to ask the Mrs Jasmine Brunner Foundation to become its Trustee further strengthens Mr Steve Calhoun and Mrs Kathleen Calhoun the Foundation’s financial base and demonstrates Mrs Krystyna Campbell-Pretty and the significant confidence in the Royal Botanic Gardens Campbell-Pretty Family Foundation Victoria’s capacity to manage and grow Dr Philippa Currie the resources it is responsible for. Ms Debbie Dadon AM Mr Gerard A Dieters and Ms Jean Dieters Mr Leon Gorr and Mrs Judith Gorr Ms Virginia Henry Dr Patricia Kailis Mr Mark Lewis and Mrs Bronwyn Lewis Mr Frank Mahlab and Mrs Eve Mahlab AO Mrs Anne Miller and Mr Edward Miller Mrs Roslynne Milne Mr Dennis Nassau and Mrs Fairlie Nassau Mrs Maggie Richards and Dr Max Richards AM Mr Mark Robertson OAM and Mrs Anne Robertson Mrs Margaret Ross AM and Dr Ian Ross Mr Frank Van Straten OAM and Mr Adrian Turley Mr Steve Yannicos

Page 48 Perennial Gardeners Director’s Circle The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria gratefully The Director’s Circle Program is a vehicle for some of acknowledges the following individuals who have the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s closest supporters included the Gardens in their estate plans: to pledge their annual, unrestricted contributions Anonymous (29) to help protect the Gardens for future generations, through the Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation. Mrs Tamara Boldiston and Mr Mark Boldiston (Lord Coconut) Director’s Circle gifts support vital projects that improve the landscapes, collections, research, and Mrs Hazel Brentnall and Dr Edward Brentnall educational programs at the Gardens. Ms Sally Browne The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria sincerely thanks Mr Douglas Butler the following Director’s Circle supporters for their Mrs Elsie Carter vision and continuing generosity. Mrs Lorna Downey Patron Mr Richard A Farrar Professor Timothy J Entwisle The Late Grace Ella Fraser Anonymous (4) Mr Rob Grant and Mr Murray Collins Mr David Adam and Mrs Judy Adam Mr Andrew Grummet AM and Mrs Margaret Grummet Sir David Akers-Jones GBM KBE CMG The Late Arno Herpe Miss Betty Amsden AO DSJ Mrs Maria Jo Herpe Mrs Jan Anderson and Mr Robert Anderson The Late Charles A G Hill Mr Duncan Andrews and Ms Jan Andrews Mr Peter Jopling AM QC Professor Tony Bacic and Mrs Lee Bacic The Late Elena Keown Mr Graeme Baker and Mrs Lee Baker Ms Zara M Kimpton OAM Mr Ben Batters and Mrs Sunday Batters The Late Athol Lapthorne and Mrs Millie Lapthorne Mrs Judy Begg and Mr Michael Begg Janet Lilley Mr Marc Besen AC and Mrs Eva Besen AO Ms Patrice Raselli Marriott Mr Ian Beynon and Mrs Beth Beynon The Late Michael J Mavrogordato Mr Russell Board and Ms Narelle Ivers Mrs Anne Miller Ms Sally Browne Dr Philip Moors AO Ms Marian Brookes Ms Rosemary O’Brien Mr James Calvert-Jones Mr David Plant and Mrs Diana Plant Mr John Calvert-Jones AM and Ms Misha Prusa Mrs Janet Calvert-Jones AO Estate of the Late Jack MacDonald Reid Ms Robin Campbell Mr Damian Roberton and Mrs Lisa Roberton Mrs Krystyna Campbell-Pretty and the Ms Sonja Roglic and Mr Marcel Berkhout Campbell-Pretty Family The Estate of the Late Peter and Barbara Shearer Mr Peter Canet and Mrs Ivanka Canet Mrs Merrill Shulkes and Prof Arthur Shulkes Ms Elaine Canty AM and Mr Roy Masters AM The Estate of the Late Evelyn Siracusa Mr Nic Capp and Mrs Nikki Capp The Late Judy Ann Stewart Professor David Chandler Mr John Webb and Mrs Pat Webb The Honourable Alex Chernov AC, QC and Mrs Elizabeth Chernov Seat Sponsorship Ms Sandra Clark Mrs Cindy Borschman Mrs Gillian Hund and Mr Sandy Clark and Ms Marie McDonald Professor David Chandler Mr Michael Hund Professor Adrienne Clarke AC FAA Mr John Gaidzkar and Mr Ben Lilley Mrs Norma Gaidzkar Mrs Susan B Morgan Mr Richard Clarke and Mrs Margaret Clarke Mrs Dita Gould Ogg Family Trust Mr Leigh Clifford AO and Mrs Sue Clifford Mr Ken Hawkins Mr John Simpson Dr Robin Collier OAM and Prof Neil Collier Mr Michael Henry Ms Jenny Skewes Mr John Collingwood and Mrs Chris Collingwood Ms Lisa Herford Mr Rocky Sorrenti Mr Graham Cunningham and Mrs Ann Cunningham Ms Nicole Herford Ms Joany Sze Mrs Mary Davidson and Mr Fredrick Davidson AM Mrs Maria Jo Herpe Ms Debra Yung Sir Daryl Dawson AC, KBE, CB, QC and Lady Lou Dawson Assoc. Prof. Elizabeth M Dax AM and Professor Hugh Taylor AC Mr Peter de Campo Mr Bruce Echberg and Mrs Kerry Echberg

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 49 Mr Rodger Elliot AM and Mrs Gwen Elliot AM Mr Peter Lovell and Mr Michael Jan Mr Ian Endersby Ms Alex Mayes and Mr Mark Dempsey Professor Tim Entwisle and Ms Lynda Entwisle Mr Robert McKay and Mrs Sarah McKay Mr Paul Evans and Mr John Keats Brian and Virginia McNamee Foundation Ms Jane Fenton AM and Mr David Miles Mr Ian McNaughton and Mrs Libby McNaughton Dr Helen Ferguson Mr Ross Milne-Pott and Mrs Judy Milne-Pott Mrs Robin Ferry OAM and Mr Andrew Ferry OAM Dr Philip Moors AO and Dr Debbie Moors Mr Anthony Fitzwilliams Hyde and Mrs Diana Morgan Mrs Chloe Fitzwilliams Hyde Mr Hugh Morgan AC and Mrs Libby Morgan Mr Mike Fogarty and Mrs Deb Fogarty Mrs Susan B Morgan Mrs Penny Fowler and Mr Grant Fowler Ms Phoebe Munro and Mr Hamish Munro Mr Geoffrey Freeman and Mrs Lesley Freeman Mr Baillieu Myer AC and Mrs Sarah Myer Ms Lindy Freeman Mr Stephen Newton AO The Garnaut Family Ms Wendy Olenick Mrs Jenny Gold and Family Mr Richard Oliver AM and Ms Louise Jamson Mr Robert Green and Mrs Jan Green Mr Martin Owen and Mrs Susan Owen Mr Peter Greenham and Mrs Anne Greenham Mrs Adele Palmer Mrs Lesley Griffin Mr George Pappas AO and Mrs Jillian Pappas Mr Peter Griffin AM and Ms Terry Swann Mr Bruce Parncutt AO Mrs Joan Grigg and Mr John Grigg Mr John Patrick and Mrs Bridget Patrick Mr Andrew Grummet AM and Mrs Margaret Grummet Mrs Lee Pinkus Mrs Sarah Guest and The Honourable James Guest Mr Robert Pitt Mr Andrew Guild and Mrs Ai-gul Guild Lady Potter AC The Hon. David Habersberger QC and Mr John Prescott AC and Mrs Jennifer Prescott Mrs Pam Habersberger Ms Misha Prusa Mrs Jean Hadges Mr John Ralph AC and Mrs Barbara Ralph Mr Brian Hamersfeld and Mrs Natalie Hamersfeld Mrs Carolyn Rayner Mr Michael Hamson and Mrs Susie Hamson Mr Ian Reid and Mrs Julie Reid Mr Ken Harrison AM and Mrs Jill Harrison Mr Damian Roberton and Mrs Lisa Roberton Mrs Barbara Haynes and Mr David Johnston Mr Ken Roche and Mrs Gail Roche Ms Maria Jo Herpe Mrs Margaret Ross AM and Dr Ian Ross Mr Jim Higgins and Mrs Barbara Higgins Mrs Maria Ryan and Mr Martin Ryan Mr Graeme Holt and Mrs Judy Holt Mr Stephen Salerno and Dr Helen Maroulis Mr Frank Hook and Mrs Sheryl Hook Mr Tim Scarborough and Mrs Adelaide Scarborough Mrs Chris Howard Ms Elizabeth Sevior Mrs Roni Hubay and Mr Gaby Hubay Mr Greg Shalit and Ms Miriam Faine Mrs Gillian Hund and Mr Michael Hund Ms Jennifer Shaw Mr Greg Ireton and Ms Kate Taylor Mrs Diana Sher and Mr Jeffrey Sher Mr Will Jones Mrs Anita Simon Mr Peter Kelly and Mrs Liz Kelly Professor Richard Smallwood AO Mr Craig Kimberley OAM and Mrs Connie Kimberley and Mrs Carol Smallwood Ms Zara Kimpton Mrs Wendy Smart and Mr Alex Smart Ms Lori Kravos Mr Brian Snape AM and Mrs Diana Snape Ms Elizabeth Lane Mr Geoff Steinicke and Mrs Judy Steinicke Ms Millie Lapthorne Mr Duncan Stewart and Mrs Dominique Stewart Mr Tom Latham and Mrs Marianne Latham Dr Gregory Tilley and Mrs Jacqueline Tilley Mrs Diana Lempriere Mr Colin Trumble Mrs Alison Leslie Dr Mark Tuck and Mrs Lisa Tuck Mr Bill Leslie Mr David Valentine Mrs Bronwyn Lewis and Mr Mark Lewis Mrs Susan Vaughan and Mr Ian Vaughan Mrs Janet Limb Mr Ralph Ward-Ambler AM and Ms Caroline Liow Mrs Barbara Ward-Ambler Mr George Littlewood and Mrs Ann Littlewood Mr Peter Wetenhall and Ms Joanna Horgan Mrs Maryclare Los and Mr Pieter Los Mr Paul Wheelton OAM and Ms Angela Young-Wheelton

Page 50 Ms Linda White Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne Inc. Ms Janet Whiting AM and Mr Phil Lukies The Cranbourne Friends turn twenty-five in the latter Dr Philip Williams AM and Mrs Elizabeth Williams part of 2016. Twenty-five years of wonderful work will be captured in a history commissioned by the Friends’ Ms Susanne Williamson Committee and currently being written by Carolyn Mr John Wyld and Mrs Anne Wyld Landon. From small beginnings, the group has grown, Dr Elizabeth Xipell now enjoying the support of 732 members. Mr Harrison Young Richard Clarke stepped down as President in Research grants December 2015 to be replaced by Indra Kurzeme. We gratefully acknowledge the following organisations During the year, the Friends’ Elliot Centre was opened, for providing grants for research in 2015–16: the Growing Friends Nursery completed and the the Aecom Australia Garden Explorer service replaced and expanded. In Albury Conservation 2015–16, donations to Cranbourne Gardens of $121,130 were made covering moneys for the Garden Explorers, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (Global Plants Initiative) works in the Elliot Centre, Maud Gibson Room and Australian Academy of Science Orchid Centre, and possum-proofing of Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) the Cranbourne Gardens Nursery. Australian Network for Plant Conservation One of the areas under consideration of the Australian Research Council Committee is making the organisation ready for the Australian Seed Bank Partnership (Millennium Seed next generation of Cranbourne Friends. With this in Bank) mind, the Committee has embarked on an awareness City of Boroondara raising campaign of the work of the Friends via two City of Melbourne social media channels: Facebook and Instagram. Cybec Foundation Work is also continuing on improving the Friends’ web presence. A small sub-group of the Committee is Department of Environment, Australian Government looking at ways to attract and retain younger members. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victorian Government Highlights of the Friends’ Activity Calendar included Earthwatch Australia a trip to the Little Desert and Surrounds, which was completely booked out and enjoyed enormously by all Efficiency Matrix who attended. The annual Australian Textile Exhibition E2Design Lab was once again held to great acclaim. Frankston City Council A cruise around Wilson’s Promontory was a new Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Inc. type of activity and proved to be so popular that two GHD Pty Ltd cruises were scheduled. Naturally, all monies raised Hanson Construction continue to support the Cranbourne Gardens. Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Inc. Kosciuszko to Coast Incorporation Led by President Sally Hirst, membership figures remained stable at just under 2,400 during the year. Maud Gibson Trust The Friends’ quarterly program of events, including Moonee Valley City Council school holiday workshops at the Plant Craft Cottage, National University of Singapore illustrated talks in Mueller Hall and Domain House, Nell and Hermon Slade Trust guided walks and self-drive garden visits, was well NSW Roads and Maritime Services attended, generating funds and providing interesting Office of Environment and Heritage, Australian and enjoyable activities for members and guests. Government Classes in botanical illustration, held seven days a week, Oxford University Press continued to be very well attended, as were the four- Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Foundation day beginners’ workshops held during the term breaks. The University of Melbourne Specialty workshops featuring several guest teachers were also popular. The Friends’ botanical illustrators’ Vic Roads exhibition ‘reFraming Nature’, was held in Domain World Wildlife Fund House during October 2015. Focussing on natural history, it raised more than $10,000. The Growing Friends group held two successful weekend public plant sales during autumn and spring and monthly nursery sales for members only. At the end of the year, the Growing Friends raised over $40,000.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 51 OUR VOLUNTEERS Herbarium Volunteers • In 2015–16, Herbarium Volunteers worked with Marina Albert Jennifer Lund staff on curation and documentation of the State Eve Almond Anne McLachlan Botanical Collection and on conservation research. Neil Anderton Angela Mitchell They added over 11,300 mounted and/or curated Wendy Bedgood Pauline Morrison specimens to the State Botanical Collection and 353 specimens to the MELISR database, and Jenepher Beudel Tom Morton contributed more than 10,000 hours of work to Sally Bufe Margaret Murfett the Plant Sciences and Biodiversity Division Ainsley Carlin Gillian Newnham on a range of projects, including: Wendy Cook Hannah Noorda • Editing, databasing and digitising the Library’s Sandra Cumbari Graham Patterson botanical slide collection to support development Heather Eather Beau Picking of the online VicFlora, and the Historic Alwynne Fairweather Diana Plant Photographic collection Francis Faul Lynsey Poore • Text and image preparation for the eFlora version Katherine Flynn Laraine Proctor of the Horticultural flora for south-eastern Australia Paul George Veronica Reeve • Ongoing quality control and data entry into Margaret Gordon Erin Roga Fungimap, image databases and FDU wiki Christine Graunas Sara Romberg • Fungimap Office activities including shop sales, finances, fundraising and member communications Mary Gregory Jennifer Ross resulting in increased sales due to assistance during Robert Hare David Sambrooks Fungimap events, including the Fungimap Tasmania Travis Heafield Gennaro Scognamiglio Conference 2016 in May Mary Hills Catherine Taylor • Cleaning and preparing seeds for long-term storage, Jessica Hood Joan Thomas and undertaking germination trials and requirement Elizabeth Howcroft Peter Wallace studies, and associated data entry for the Victorian Vicki Jaeger Ann Walsham Conservation Seedbank Tom Jeavons Mary Ward • Collections Projects including work on the Filson Bradley Jenner Mike Wicks Lichen, Ilma Stone Moss and Ratkowsky Gates Fungi Collections and databasing Types Meran Jennings Charles Young Kerry Jolly  • Mounting specimens, completing three families of the Foreign Collection, and remounting or repairing Libby Kerr Australian vascular Type specimens, prior to scanning Mirini Lang for the Global Plants Initiative (GPI) Project Anne Lawson • Working on the Orchid Conservation Program in Geoffrey Lay the laboratory, field and nursery, assisting in the Jannie Lay propagation, research and re-introduction of 30 Geoffrey Le Page federally threatened terrestrial species from across Gary Leete Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales. Sue Lesser Anna Long

Page 52 Cranbourne Gardens Volunteers At Cranbourne Gardens, 49 Garden Ambassadors contributed 3,197 hours during the past year. Garden Ambassadors provide an extremely important contribution to the experience of visitors to Cranbourne Gardens. In addition to this, 22 Land Management Volunteers contributed 1920 hours to a range of important activities at Cranbourne Gardens. In some instances, individuals volunteer in more than one capacity*.

Garden Ambassadors Helen Kennedy Land Management Anne Adams Christine Kenyon Volunteers Amy Akers Eva Kowal Brianna Butcher Bianca Carnovale Robin Allison Linda Lee Dave Cundall John Armstrong Nancy Leonard Ian Hawkins Margaret Barnes Mary Macdermid Lauren Kinsey Pamela Binks Judy Mallinson Callum Martin Trevor Blake Don Matthews Lachlan Martin Margaret Brookes Peter McGrath Liam Martin Dawn Neylan Margaret Clarke Lauris McInerney Mike Paterson Brian Cole Mark Nelson Nick Swinton Erin Cosgriff Paula Nicholas Claire Taylor Ron Deane David Redfern Sarah Thoonen Johan de Bree Charles Saffroy Derek de Korte Marj Seaton Library volunteer Jan Maslen David Elias Sue Spicer Mack Fenwick Laurie Stephens Carol Ferguson John Steward Chloe Foster Bernadette Swanson Barrie Gallacher Sue Tatton Ralph Henger Ray Turner Faye Hobby Jean Wallis Lynette Hosking Kate Walsh Elspeth Jacobs Roger Watts Marie Kehoe Charles Young * 

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 53 Melbourne Gardens Volunteers At Melbourne Gardens, 70 volunteers contributed 9,553 hours during the past year, in some instances volunteering their time and skills in more than one capacity*. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria gratefully acknowledges and values the work of all volunteers and looks forward to their continuing support. Garden Ambassadors The Ian Potter Voluntary Guides Frances Coffey Foundation Children’s Jill Bartlett Dianne Costelloe Garden volunteers Susan Broadbent Anne Ada Rosemary Cotter * Pamela Carder Moira Bainbridge Helen Creedon Rosemary Cotter * Mary Becker Berys Dixon Anna Denton Angela Bentley Veronica Harrison Caroline Durre Lorraine Brock Wendy Hopkins Kay Hall Jan Brown Julie Jones Jenny Happell Stephanie Campbell- Anne Krelle Gabb Ross Harris Susan Langley Billie De Bondi Ruth Harris Gail Latchford Jenni Eaton Virginia Heywood Lea Levy * Lea Levy * Marlies Johnson Alasdair MacDonald Anna Priester David Johnston Marian McLean Marg Smith Scott Kerr Gloria Minter Sue Smith Jenny Lang Eddie Natt Maggie Troup Terry Lennon Jadzia Rae Kate Welsh Julianne Lewis Ann Scott Christine Mitchell Libby Tronson Georgina Mountford Max Watson Gary Nelson Jenny Nicholas Rosemary O’Brien Donna Osbourne David Plant Ian Polmear Margaret Polmear Lynsey Poore Faye Retchford Jayne Salmon Helen Smyth Carole Spillane Geraldine Wade Max Watson Linda Wilkins Mali Wilson 

Page 54 Honorary Associates Dr Peter Adams, Surrey Hills, Victoria Honorary Associates are appointed by the Dr Collin Ahrens, Prahran, Victoria Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria on the Dr Austin Brown, Glen Waverley, Victoria recommendation of the Director and Chief Executive Dr Fiona Caryl, ARCUE for a fixed term of up to three years, with the option of re-appointment by mutual agreement. Dr Michelle Casanova, Westmere, Victoria Mr Ian Clarke, Bentleigh, Victoria Honorary Associates are individuals who possess expertise in areas that supplement or complement Dr Thomas Darragh, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, The University of Melbourne our Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria employees. They contribute greatly to the achievements of the Royal Professor Rod Home, School of Philosophy, Botanic Gardens Victoria through their research on The University of Melbourne various angiosperm plant families and bryophytes, Dr Christopher Ives, School of Global, Urban and Social fungi, lichens and algae, through studies in urban Studies, RMIT University ecology, or by curating the specimens held in the State Mr Jeff Jeanes, Wy Yung, Victoria Botanical Collection. Others add to the value of the Dr Gerry Kraft, Point Lonsdale, Victoria and Hobart, State Botanical Collection by collecting specimens, Tasmania including undescribed plants and fungi, from areas Professor Pauline Ladiges, School of BioSciences, that employees are unable to survey. The Library The University of Melbourne also benefits from the input of a number of Honorary Dr Sheryl Lawson, Surrey Hills, Victoria Associates to the Mueller Correspondence Project. Dr Graeme Lorimer, Biosphere Pty Ltd, Bayswater North, Victoria Dr Sara Maroske, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, The University of Melbourne Mrs Enid Mayfield, Geelong, Victoria Ms Mali Moir, Mt Evelyn, Victoria Dr John Morgan, Department of Botany, Latrobe University Mr Kevin Rule, Nunawading, Victoria Ms Katrina Syme, Denmark, Western Australia Dr Caragh Threlfall, The University of Melbourne, Burnley Mr Rick Tudor, South Yarra, Victoria Ms Anneke Veenstra, Deakin University Dr Nicholas Williams, School of Resource Management, The University of Melbourne

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 55 Financial Statements Financial Statements Contents

58 Accountable Officer’s, Chief Finance Officer’s and Board’s Declaration 59 Comprehensive Operating Statement 60 Balance Sheet 61 Statement of Changes in Equity 62 Cash Flow Statement 63 Notes to the Financial Statements 63 Note 1 Summary of accounting policies 74 Note 2 Income from transactions 74 Note 3 Expenses from transactions 75 Note 4 Other economic flows included in net result 76 Note 5 Receivables 76 Note 6 Inventories 76 Note 7 Non-financial physical assets classified as held-for-sale 78 Note 8 Property, plant and equipment 80 Note 9 Payables 80 Note 10 Borrowings 80 Note 11 Provisions 81 Note 12 Superannuation 82 Note 13 Leases 83 Note 14 Commitments for expenditure 83 Note 15 Financial instruments 89 Note 16 Cash flow information 89 Note 17 Reserves 89 Note 18 Responsible persons 90 Note 19 Remuneration of executives 90 Note 20 Remuneration of auditors 90 Note 21 Glossary of terms and style conventions 93 Auditor-General’s Report

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 57 Page 58 Comprehensive operating statement for the financial year ended 30 June 2016

Note 2016 2015 $ $

Income from transactions Grants 2(a) 16,862,410 15,231,662 Sponsorships and donations 2(b) 1,613,427 1,771,407 Sales of goods and services 2(c) 2,617,297 2,690,202 Fair value of assets and services received free of charge or for 2(d) 958,337 829,864 nominal consideration Interest 2(e) 191,064 241,707 Other income 2(f) 1,321,801 1,523,302 Total income from transactions 23,564,336 22,288,144

Expenses from transactions Employee expenses 3(a) (15,133,540) (13,783,622) Depreciation 3(b) (2,155,415) (1,995,751) Interest expense 3(c) (22,576) (25,543) Other operating expenses (i) 3(d) (7,755,437) (6,906,112) Total expenses from transactions (25,066,968) (22,711,028)

Net result from transactions (net operating balance) (1,502,632) (422,884)

Other economic flows included in net result (ii) Net gain/(loss) on non-financial assets 4(a) 67,442 86,386 (iii) Net gain/(loss) on financial instruments 4(b) (9,729) (1,497) Other gains/(losses) from economic flows 4(c) (244,632) (123,110) Total other economic flows included in net result (186,919) (38,221)

Net result (1,689,551) (461,105)

Other economic flows - other comprehensive income Items that will not be reclassified to net result Changes in physical asset revaluation surplus 17 191,764,132 - Total other economic flows - other comprehensive income 191,764,132 -

Comprehensive result 190,074,581 (461,105)

Notes: (i) 'Other operating expenses' include bad debts from transactions that are mutually agreed - refer to definition of 'transactions' in Note 21. (ii) 'Net gain/(loss) on non-financial assets' includes impairments and disposals of all physical assets, except where these are taken through the asset revaluation surplus. (iii) 'Net gain/(loss) on financial instruments' includes bad and doubtful debts from other economic flows, unrealised and realised gains/(losses) from revaluations and impairments and reversals of impairments.

This comprehensive operating statement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes to the financial statements.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 59

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria 2015-16 Financial Report Page 3 Balance sheet as at 30 June 2016

Notes 2016 2015 $ $

Assets Financial assets Cash and deposits 15, 16 7,316,464 5,861,002 Receivables 5, 15 621,599 929,749 Total financial assets 7,938,063 6,790,751

Non-financial assets Inventories 6 233,432 230,303 Non-financial physical assets classified as held-for-sale 7 11,499 - Prepayments 30,689 25,592 Property, plant and equipment 8 605,762,022 414,765,568 Total non-financial assets 606,037,642 415,021,463

Total assets 613,975,705 421,812,214

Liabilities Payables 9, 15 930,000 540,593 Borrowings 10, 15 869,089 460,154 Provisions 11 4,562,786 4,156,655 Liabilities directly associated with assets classified as held-for-sale 7 11,197 - Total liabilities 6,373,072 5,157,402

Net assets 607,602,633 416,654,812

Equity Accumulated surplus 22,477,349 24,166,900 Physical asset revaluation surplus 17 498,826,315 307,062,183 Contributed capital 86,298,969 85,425,729 Net worth 607,602,633 416,654,812

Commitments for expenditure 14

This balance sheet should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes to the financial statements.

Page 60

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria 2015-16 Financial Report Page 4 Statement of changes in equity for the financial year ended 30 June 2016

Physical Asset Accumulated Contributions By Total Revaluation Surplus Owner Surplus $ $ $ $

Balance at 1 July 2014 307,062,183 24,628,005 85,425,729 417,115,917 Net result for the year - (461,105) - (461,105) Capital contributions - - - - Other comprehensive income for the year - - - - Balance at 30 June 2015 307,062,183 24,166,900 85,425,729 416,654,812 Net result for the year - (1,689,551) - (1,689,551) Capital contributions - - 873,240 873,240 Other comprehensive income for the year 191,764,132 - - 191,764,132 Balance at 30 June 2016 498,826,315 22,477,349 86,298,969 607,602,633

This statement of changes in equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes to the financial statements.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 61

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria 2015-16 Financial Report Page 5 Cash flow statement for the financial year ended 30 June 2016

2016 2015 Note $ $

Cash flows from operating activities Receipts Receipts from Government 16,805,379 16,625,291 Receipts from other entities 6,453,901 6,685,495 Goods and Services Tax received from the ATO (i) 173,417 - Interest received 182,664 239,868 Total receipts 23,615,361 23,550,654

Payments Payments to suppliers and employees (22,102,356) (20,151,235) Goods and Services Tax paid to the ATO (i) - (1,239,236) Interest and other costs of finance paid (22,576) (25,543) Total payments (22,124,932) (21,416,014)

Net cash flows from/(used in) operating activities 16(b) 1,490,429 2,134,640

Cash flows from investing activities Proceeds from sale of non-financial assets 60,162 13,114 Payments for non-financial assets (706,987) (1,739,341) Net cash flows from/(used in) investing activities (646,825) (1,726,227)

Cash flows from financing activities Owners contributions by State Government 873,240 - Repayment of finance leases (251,653) (142,873) Net cash flows from/(used in) financing activities 621,587 (142,873)

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 1,465,191 265,540 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of financial year 5,861,002 5,594,368 Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash held in foreign currency (9,729) 1,094 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of financial year 16(a) 7,316,464 5,861,002

Note (i): Goods and Services Tax paid to the ATO is presented on a net basis.

This cash flow statement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes to the financial statements.

Page 62

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria 2015-16 Financial Report Page 6 Notes to the financial statements 30 June 2016

Notes to the financial statements for the financial year ended 30 June 2016

Note 1. Summary of accounting policies These annual financial statements represent the audited general purpose financial statements for the Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria (the Board) for the period ending 30 June 2016. The purpose of the report is to provide users with information about the Board’s stewardship of resources entrusted to it.

(a) Statement of compliance These general purpose financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Management Act 1994 (FMA) and applicable Australian Accounting Standards (AAS) which include Interpretations, issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB). In particular, they are presented in a manner consistent with the requirements of the AASB 1049 Whole of Government and General Government Sector Financial Reporting.

Where appropriate, those AAS paragraphs applicable to not-for-profit entities have been applied.

The accounting policies are selected and applied in a manner which ensures that the resulting financial information satisfies the concepts of relevance and reliability, thereby ensuring that the substance of the underlying transactions or other events is reported.

To gain a better understanding of the terminology used in this report, a glossary of terms and style conventions can be found at Note 21.

These annual financial statements were authorised for issue by the Chairman of the Board on 16 August 2016.

(b) Basis of preparation The accrual basis of accounting has been applied in the preparation of these financial statements whereby assets, liabilities, equity, income and expenses are recognised in the reporting period to which they relate, regardless of when cash is received or paid.

Judgements, estimates and assumptions are required to be made about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on professional judgements derived from historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised and also in future periods that are affected by the revision. Judgments and assumptions made by management in the application of AAS that have significant effects on the financial statements and estimates relate to: h the fair value of land, buildings, infrastructure, plant, equipment and vehicles (refer Note 1(j)); h superannuation expense (refer Note 1(f)); and h actuarial assumptions for employee benefit provisions based on likely tenure of existing staff, patterns of leave claims, future salary movements and future discount rates (refer Note 1(k)).

These financial statements are presented in Australian dollars, and prepared in accordance with the historical cost convention, except for non-financial physical assets, which, subsequent to acquisition, are measured at a revalued amount being their fair value at the date of the revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent impairment losses. Revaluations are made with sufficient regularity to ensure that the carrying amounts do not materially differ from their fair value.

Consistent with AASB 13 Fair Value Measurement , the Board determines the policies and procedures for both recurring fair value measurements such as property, plant and equipment and financial instruments and for non-recurring fair value measurements such as non-financial physical assets held-for-sale, in accordance with the requirements of AASB 13 and the relevant Financial Reporting Directions.

All assets and liabilities for which fair value is measured or disclosed in the financial statements are categorised within the fair value hierarchy, described as follows, based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement as a whole: h Level 1 - Quoted (unadjusted) market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; h Level 2 - Valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is directly or indirectly observable; and h Level 3 - Valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is unobservable.

For the purpose of fair value disclosures, the Board has determined classes of assets and liabilities on the basis of the nature, characteristics and risks of the asset or liability and the level of the fair value hierarchy as explained above.

In addition, the Board determines whether transfers have occurred between levels in the hierarchy by re-assessing categorisation (based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement as a whole) at the end of each reporting period.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 63

Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria 2015-16 Financial Report Page 7 Notes to the financial statements une

Note 1. Summary of accounting policies (continued)

he auer enera ictoria is the Board’s independent auation aenc. he Board in conunction with onitors chanes in the fair aue of each asset and iabiit throuh reeant data sources to deterine whether reauation is reuired.

(c) Reporting entity he Board is estabished under the oa Botanic ardens ct . ts principa address is oa Botanic ardens ictoria Birdwood enue ebourne .

he financia stateents coer the oa Botanic ardens Board ictoria the Board as an indiidua reportin entit which adinisters the operations of the ebourne ardens the ranbourne ardens and the ustraian esearch entre for rban coo.

(d) Scope and presentation of financial statements Comprehensive operating statement he coprehensie operatin stateent coprises three coponents bein ‘net resut fro transactions’ or tered as ‘net operatin balance’), ‘other econoic fows incuded in net result’, as we as ‘other econoic fows – other coprehensie income’. The sum of the former two, together with the net result from discontinued operations, represents the net result.

he net resut is euiaent to profit or oss deried in accordance with s.

his cassification is consistent with the whoe of oernent reportin forat and is aowed under B resentation of inancia tateents. efer to ote ossar for the definitions of ‘net resut fro transactions ‘other econoic fows included in net result’ and ‘other economic flows – other comprehensive income’.)

Balance sheet ssets and iabiities are presented in iuidit order with assets areated into financia assets and nonfinancia assets.

urrent and noncurrent assets and iabiities noncurrent bein those epected to be recoered or setted ore than onths after the reportin period are discosed in the notes where reeant.

Cash flow statement ash fows are cassified accordin to whether or not the arise fro operatin inestin or financin actiities. his cassification is consistent with reuireents under B tateent of cash fows.

Statement of changes in equity he stateent of chanes in euit presents reconciiations of each nonowner and owner euit openin baance at the beinnin of the reportin period to the cosin baance at the end of the reportin period. t aso shows separate chanes due to aounts reconised in the oprehensie resut and aounts reconised in ther econoic fowsother oeents in euit reated to ransactions with owner in its capacit as owner.

Rounding ounts in the financia stateents incudin the notes hae been rounded to the nearest doar uness otherwise stated. iures in the financia stateents a not euate due to roundin. ease refer to the end of ote for a ste conention epainin that inor discrepancies resut fro roundin.

(e) Income from transactions ncoe is reconised to the etent that it is probabe that the econoic benefits wi fow to the entit and the incoe can be reiab easured at fair aue.

Grants ncoe fro rants other than contributions b owners is reconised when the Board ains contro oer the contribution.

or reciproca rants ie eua aue is ien bac b the Board to the proider the Board is deeed to hae assued contro when the Board is satisfied its perforance obiations under the ters of the rant hae been et. or nonreciproca rants the Board is deeed to hae assued contro when the rant is receiabe or receied. onditiona rants a be reciproca or nonreciproca dependin on the ters of the rant.

ars and eseres rust ccount rant he ars and eseres rust ccount fundin is a rate eied on etropoitan properties under the proisions of the ater ndustr ct and is proided to the Board for the purposes of conseration recreation eisure and touris within the etropoitan area refer ote .

Page 64

oa Botanic ardens Board ictoria inancia eport ae Notes to the financial statements une

Note 1. Summary of accounting policies (continued)

Sales of Goods and Services ncome from the suppl of services ncome from the suppl of services is recognised b reference to the stage of completion basis. The income is recognised when h the amount of the income, stage of completion and transaction costs incurred can be reliabl measured and h it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the Board.

nder the stage of completion method, income is recognised b reference to labour hours supplied or to labour hours supplied as a percentage of total services to be performed in each annual reporting period.

ncome from sale of goods ncome from the sale of goods is recognised when h the Board no longer has an of the significant riss and rewards of ownership of the goods transferred to the buer h the Board no longer has continuing managerial involvement to the degree usuall associated with ownership, nor effective control over the goods sold h the amount of income, and the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be reliabl measured and h it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the Board.

Sponsorships and donations ponsorships and donations are nonreciprocal in nature and the Board is deemed to have control when the monies are received from the provider.

Fair value of assets and services received free of charge or for nominal consideration ontributions of resources received free of charge or for nominal consideration are recognised at fair value when control is obtained over them, irrespective of whether these contributions are subect to restrictions or conditions over their use. ontributions in the form of services are onl recognised when a fair value can be reliabl determined and the services would have been purchased if not received as a donation.

Interest nterest income includes interest received on ban deposits and is recognised using the effective interest method which allocates the interest over the relevant period.

et realised and unrealised gains and losses on the revaluation of investments do not form part of income from transactions, but are reported as part of income from other economic flows in the net result or as unrealised gains and losses taen directl to euit, forming part of the total change in net worth in the comprehensive result.

Other income mounts disclosed as income are, where applicable, net of returns, allowances and duties and taes. ncome is recognised for each of the Boards maor activities as follows

ental income ental income in relation to the leasing of the Boards assets is recognised when received or receivable under the terms of the lease agreement.

oalt income oalt income is recognised when received or receivable in accordance with the substance of the licensing agreement.

(f) Expenses from transactions penses from transactions are recognised as the are incurred, and reported in the financial ear to which the relate.

Employee expenses efer to the section in ote ) regarding emploee benefits.

These epenses include all costs related to emploment other than superannuation which is accounted for separatel) including wages and salaries, fringe benefits ta, leave entitlements, redundanc paments and orover premiums.

uperannuation The amount recognised in the comprehensive operating statement in relation to emploer contributions for members of both defined benefit and defined contribution superannuation plans represents the Boards contributions that are paid or paable to these plans during the reporting period.

The epartment of Treasur and inance T) in its nnual inancial tatements discloses on behalf of the tate, as the sponsoring emploer, the net defined benefit cost related to the members of these plans as an administered liabilit. efer to Ts nnual inancial tatements for more disclosures in relation to these plans.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 65

oal Botanic ardens Board ictoria inancial eport age Notes to the financial statements une

Note 1. Summary of accounting policies (continued)

Depreciation ll infrastructure assets, buildings, plant, euipment and vehicles and other nonfinancial phsical assets ecluding items under operating leases, assets heldforsale, cultural assets and land) that have a limited useful life are depreciated. epreciation is generall calculated on a straight line basis, at rates that allocate the asset’s value, less an estimated residual value, over its estimated useful life.

The estimated useful lives, residual values and depreciation method are reviewed at the end of each annual reporting period, and adustments made where appropriate.

The following are tpical estimated useful lives for the different asset classes for both the current and prior ears Asset class Useful life

Buildings to ears nfrastructure to ears lant, euipment and vehicles to ears

and and cultural assets, which are considered to have an indefinite life, are not depreciated. epreciation is not recognised in respect of these assets as their service potential has not, in an material sense, been consumed during the reporting period.

Interest expense nterest epense represents costs incurred in connection with finance lease repaments and are recognised in the period in which the are incurred. efer to lossar of terms and stle conventions in ote for an eplanation of interest epense items.

Other operating expenses ther operating epenses generall represent the da to da running costs incurred in normal operations.

upplies and ervices upplies and services epenses are recognised as an epense in the reporting period in which the are incurred.

Bad and doubtful debts efer to ote i) mpairment of financial assets.

(g) Other economic flows included in net result ther economic flows measure the change in volume or value of assets or liabilities that do not result from transactions.

Net gain/(loss) on non-financial assets et gainloss) on nonfinancial assets and liabilities includes realised and unrealised gains and losses as follows

evaluation gainslosses) of nonfinancial phsical assets efer to ote ) evaluations of nonfinancial phsical assets.

isposal of nonfinancial assets n gain or loss on the sale of nonfinancial assets is recognised at the date that control of the asset is passed to the buer and is determined after deducting from the proceeds the carring value of the asset at that time.

ainloss) arising from transactions in foreign echange efer to ote ) oreign currenc.

mpairment of nonfinancial assets ll assets are assessed annuall for indications of impairment ecept for h inventories refer ote )) h nonfinancial phsical assets heldforsale refer ote )) and h assets arising from construction contracts refer ote )).

f there is an indication of impairment, the assets concerned are tested as to whether their carring value eceeds their possible recoverable amount. here an asset’s carring value eceeds its recoverable amount, the difference is written off b a charge to the operating statement ecept to the etent that the writedown can be debited to an asset revaluation reserve amount applicable to that class of asset.

f there is an indication that there has been a change in the estimate of an asset’s recoverable amount since the last impairment loss was recognised, the carring amount shall be increased to its recoverable amount. This reversal of the impairment loss occurs onl to the etent that the asset’s carring amount does not eceed the carring amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortisation, if no impairment loss had been recognised in prior ears.

Page 66

oal Botanic ardens Board ictoria inancial eport age Notes to the financial statements e

Note 1. Summary of accounting policies (continued)

t s eee tat te eet te ss a asset te te e eets as te se te asset e eae ess a se es t te ta as ee ae e eeae at st assets s ease at te e eeate eaeet st a a ae ess sts t se

ee t te eat t te et a easeet aa assets

Net gain/(loss) on financial instruments et ass aa stets es aet a eesa aet aa stets ease at atse st a ssas aa assets

Other gains/(losses) from other economic flows te assses te e s e te as sses h te eaat te eset ae te see eae at e t aes te teest ates a h tase ats te esees a aate ss t et est e t ssa eet eassat

(h) Financial instruments aa stets ase t tata aeeets tat e se t a aa asset e ett a a aa at et stet ate ett e t te ate te Board’s attes eta aa assets a aa ates ase e statte ate ta a tat aa assets a aa ates t eet te et aa stets aa stets esetat eae statt eeaes as taes es a eates t eet te et aa stets as te t ase e tat

ee eeat te sse ses a stt s ae etee tse aa assets a aa ates tat eet te et aa stets aae t a tse tat t

e ees t aa stets ess tese state

Categories of non-derivative financial instruments as a eeaes as a eeaes ae aa stet assets t e a eteae aets tat ae t te a ate aet ese assets ae ta ese at a ae s a et atttae tasat sts seet t ta easeet as a eeaes ae ease at atse st s te eete teest et ess a aet

e as a eeaes ate es as a ests ee t te te ests t att eate ta tee ts tae eeaes as a te eeaes t t statt eeaes

aa ates at atse st aa stet ates ae ta ese te ate te ae ate e ae ta ease at a ae s a et atttae tasat sts seet t ta et tese aa stets ae ease at atse st t a eee etee te ta ese at a te eet ae e ese t a ss e te e te teest ea at s te eete teest et ee t te

aa stet ates ease at atse st e a te as tata aaes ests e a aaes eee a teest ea aaeets

(i) Financial assets Cash and deposits as a ests ese te aae seet se as a a as at a ests at a a tse estets t a a att tee ts ess ae e te se eet st te as tets ate ta estet ses a ea ete t ats as t a sat s aes ae

Receivables eeaes sst h tata eeaes es ets eat t s a sees a ae teest e a h statt eeaes eat e t ta ets eeae

tata eeaes ae asse as aa stets a atese as as a eeaes ee t te et a easeet tatt eeaes ae ese a ease sa t tata eeaes eet aet t ae t asse as aa stets ease te t ase a tat

eeaes ae set t aet test as ese e s t eeaes s ese e tee s ete eee tat te ets a t e ete a a ets ae tte e ete

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 67

a ta aes a ta aa et ae Notes to the financial statements

Note 1. Summary of accounting policies (continued)

Investments ss ar assd oo aors h aa asss a ar a ro ro ad oss ad h oas ad ras

assao dds o ros or ss r ard aa drs assao o s ss a a roo

rs ard o aa ass s rosd osodad ors ora sa as a rasao

Derecognition of financial assets aa ass or r aa a ar o a aa ass or ar o a ro o sar aa asss s drosd h rs o r as os ro ass a rd or h Board as rasrrd s rs o r as os ro ass ad r a as rasrrd ssaa a rss ad rards o ass or as r rasrrd or rad ssaa a rss ad rards o ass as rasrrd oro o ass

r Board as r rasrrd or rad ssaa a rss ad rards or rasrrd oro ass s recognised to the extent of the Board’s continuing involvement in the asset.

Impairment of financial assets d o a ror rod Board asssss r r s o d a a aa ass or ro o aa asss s ard aa asss ar s o aa r or ar

as ar assssd or ad ad do ds o a rar ass os ds osdrd as r o a os ar assd as a rasao s os r o ara ad aoa or do ras ar assd as or oo os

ao o aoa s dr aa asset’s arr ao ad rs a o sad r as os dsod a rs ra

assss ar o saor ooraa aa asss ar o aa srs rossoa d s ad assss ara ad ss sas aras ad oaoa sors aorda B ar o asss

(j) Non-financial assets Inventories ors d oods dorsa ordar ors o sss oraos ad ar asrd a or o os ad rasa a

os o or s asrd o ass o d ara os r ors ar ard or o os or oa osdrao ar asrd a rr ra os a da o aso

Non-financial physical assets classified as held-for-sale, including disposal group assets oaa sa asss d dsosa ro asss ar rad as rr ad assd as dorsa r arr ao rord ro a sa rasao rar a ro o s

s odo s rardd as o h ass s aaa or da s rr odo ad h sa s roa ad asset’s sa s d o od os ro da o assao

s oaa sa asss rad as ad aa asss ar asrd a or o arr ao ad ar a ss oss o s ad ar o s o drao or aorsao

Property, plant and equipment orr sa asss ar asrd a a os ad ss rad a ar a ss aad drao ad ar r a ass s rd or o or oa osdrao os s asset’s ar a a da o aso

a os or oaa sa asss dr a a as rr o o s asrd a aos a o ar a o asd ass or or rs a o as as a drd a o o as

Page 68

oa Boa ards Board ora aa or a Notes to the financial statements une

Note 1. Summary of accounting policies (continued)

onfinancial hsical assets such as ron land and heritage assets are measured at fair value ith regard to the property’s highest and est use after due consideration is made for an legal or constructive restrictions imosed on the asset ulic announcements or commitments made in relation to the intended use of the asset. heoretical oortunities that ma e availale in relation to the asset are not taen into account until it is virtuall certain that the restrictions ill no longer al.

he fair value of infrastructure sstems and lant euiment and vehicles is normall determined reference to the asset’s dereciated relacement cost. or lant euiment and vehicles existing dereciated historical cost is generall a reasonale rox for dereciated relacement cost ecause of the short lives of the assets concerned.

ertain assets are acuired under finance leases. efer to ote l eases.

he cost of constructed nonfinancial hsical assets includes the cost of all materials used in construction direct laour on the roect and an aroriate roortion of variale and fixed overheads.

Where an asset is received for no or nominal consideration, the cost is the asset’s fair value at the date of acquisition.

lthough the value of the ron land located at elourne and ranourne has een included in the alance sheet it should e noted that under the rovisions of the oal Botanic ardens ct the Board is onl resonsile for the management of the land and does not on these roerties.

he cost of nonfinancial hsical assets constructed the Board includes the cost of all materials used in construction direct laour on the roect and an aroriate roortion of variale and fixed overheads.

or the accounting olic on imairment of nonfinancial hsical assets refer to imairment of nonfinancial assets under ote g mairment of nonfinancial assets.

estrictive nature of cultural collections and heritage assets ron land and infrastructure assets he Board holds a numer of cultural assets collections heritage assets and other nonfinancial hsical assets including ron land and infrastructure assets that the Board intends to reserve ecause of their uniue historical cultural or environmental attriutes.

n general the fair value of those assets is measured at the relacement cost of the asset less here alicale accumulated dereciation calculated on the asis of such cost to reflect the alread consumed or exired future economic enefits of the asset and an accumulated imairment. he limitations and restrictions imosed on use andor disosal of these assets are also taen into account in determining their fair value.

evaluations of nonfinancial hsical assets onfinancial hsical assets are measured at fair value on a cclical asis in accordance ith inancial eorting irections s issued the inister for inance. full revaluation normall occurs ever five ears ased on the asset’s government urose classification ut ma occur more freuentl if fair value assessments indicate material changes in values. ndeendent valuers are used to conduct these scheduled revaluations. ertain infrastructure assets are revalued using secialised advisors. n interim revaluations are determined in accordance ith the reuirements of the s.

Revaluation increases or decreases arise from differences between an asset’s carrying value and fair value.

et revaluation increases here the carring amount of a class of assets is increased as a result of a revaluation are recognised in ‘Other economic flos – other movements in equity’ and accumulated in euit under the asset revaluation surlus. oever the net revaluation increase is recognised in the net result to the extent that it reverses a net revaluation decrease in resect of the same class of roert lant and euiment reviousl recognised as an exense other economic flos in the net result.

et revaluation decreases are recognised immediatel as other economic flos in the net result excet that the net revaluation decrease is recognised in ‘other economic flos – other movements in equity’ to the extent that a credit alance exists in the asset revaluation surlus in resect of the same class of roert lant and euiment. he net revaluation decrease recognised in ‘other economic flos – other movements in equity’ reduces the amount accumulated in euit under the asset revaluation surlus.

evaluation increases and decreases relating to individual assets ithin a class of roert lant and euiment are offset against one another ithin that class ut are not offset in resect of assets in different classes. n asset revaluation surlus is not normall transferred to accumulated funds on derecognition of the relevant asset.

Prepayments ther nonfinancial assets include reaments hich reresent aments in advance of receit of goods or services or that art of exenditure made in one accounting eriod covering a term extending eond that eriod.

(k) Liabilities Payables aales consist of h contractual aments such as accounts aale and unearned income. ccounts aale reresent liailities for goods and services rovided to the Board rior to the end of the financial ear that are unaid and arise hen the Board ecomes oliged to mae future aments in resect of the urchase of those goods and services and h statutor aales such as goods and services tax and fringe enefits tax aales.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 69

oal Botanic ardens Board ictoria inancial eort age Notes to the financial statements une

Note 1. Summary of accounting policies (continued)

ontractual payables are classified as financial instruments and categorised as financial liabilities at amortised cost refer to ote h. tatutory payables are recognised and measured similarly to contractual payables, but are not classified as financial instruments and not included in the category of financial liabilities at amortised cost, because they do not arise from a contract.

Borrowings orrowings are initially measured at fair value, being the cost of the borrowings, net of transaction costs refer also to ote l eases.

ubsequent to initial recognition, borrowings are measured at amortised cost with any difference between the initial recognised amount and the redemption value being recognised in net result over the period of the borrowing using the effective interest method.

Provisions rovisions are recognised when the oard has a present obligation, the future sacrifice of economic benefits is probable, and the amount of the provision can be measured reliably.

he amount recognised as a liability is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at reporting date, taing into account the riss and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where a provision is measured using the cash flows estimated to settle the present obligation, its carrying amount is the present value of those cash flows, using a discount rate that reflects the time value of money and riss specific to the provision.

When some or all of the economic benefits required to settle a provision are epected to be received from a third party, the receivable is recognised as an asset if it is virtually certain that recovery will be received and the amount of the receivable can be measured reliably.

Employee benefits rovision is made for benefits accruing to employees in respect of wages and salaries, annual leave and long service leave for services rendered to the reporting date.

i Wages and salaries, annual leave and sic leave iabilities for wages and salaries, including nonmonetary benefits, annual leave and accumulating sic leave, are all recognised in the provision for employee benefits as ‘current liabilities’, because the oard does not have an unconditional right to defer settlements of these liabilities.

epending on the epectation of the timing of settlement, liabilities for wages and salaries, annual leave and sic leave are measured at h undiscounted value if the oard epects to wholly settle within months or h present value if the oard does not epect to wholly settle within months.

ii ong service leave iability for long service leave is recognised in the provision for employee benefits.

nconditional is disclosed in the notes to the financial statements as a current liability, even where the oard does not epect to settle the liability within months, because it will not have the unconditional right to defer the settlement of the entitlement should an employee tae leave within months.

he components of this current liability are measured at h undiscounted value if the oard epects to wholly settle within months and h present value if the oard does not epect to wholly settle within months.

onditional is disclosed as a noncurrent liability. here is an unconditional right to defer the settlement of the entitlement until the employee has completed the requisite years of service. his noncurrent liability is measured at present value.

ny gain or loss following revaluation of the present value of noncurrent liability is recognised as a transaction, ecept to the etent that a gain or loss arises due to changes in bond interest rates, which is then recognised as an ‘other economic flow’ (refer to Note 1(g)).

On-costs rovisions for oncosts such as payroll ta, worers compensation and superannuation are recognised separately from the provision for employee benefits.

Derecognition of financial liabilities financial liability is derecognised when the obligation under the liability is discharged, cancelled or epires.

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Royal otanic ardens oard ictoria inancial Report age Notes to the financial statements une 1

Note 1. Summary of accounting policies (continued)

(l) Leases lease is a right to use an asset for an agree erio of time in echange for ament.

eases are classifie at their incetion as either oerating or finance leases base on the economic substance of the agreement so as to reflect the riss an rewars inciental to ownershi. eases of roert, lant an euiment are classifie as finance leases wheneer the terms of the lease transfer substantiall all the riss an rewars of ownershi from the lessor to the lessee. ll other leases are classifie as oerating leases.

Finance leases t the commencement of the lease term, finance leases are initiall recognise as assets an liabilities at amounts eual to the fair alue of the lease roert or, if lower, the resent alue of the minimum lease ament, each etermine at the incetion of the lease. he lease asset is ereciate oer the shorter of the estimate useful life of the asset or the term of the lease.

inimum finance lease aments are aortione between reuction of the outstaning lease liabilit an erioic finance eense, which is calculate using the interest rate imlicit in the lease an charge irectl to the comrehensie oerating statement. ontingent rentals associate with finance leases are recognise as an eense in the erio in which the are incurre.

Operating leases oar as essor ental income from oerating leases is recognise when receie or receiable in accorance with the substance of the licensing agreements.

ll incenties for the agreement of a new or renewe oerating lease are recognise as an integral art of the net consideration agreed for the use of the leased asset, irrespective of the incentive’s nature or form or the timing of payments.

n the eent that lease incenties are receie to enter into oerating leases, the aggregate cost of incenties is recognise as a reuction of rental eense oer the lease term on a straight line basis, unless another sstematic basis is more reresentatie of the time attern in which economic benefits from the lease asset are consume.

oar as essee erating lease aments, incluing an contingent rentals, are recognise as an eense in the comrehensie oerating statement on a straight line basis oer the lease term, ecet where another sstematic basis is more reresentatie of the time attern of the benefits erie from the use of the lease asset. he lease asset is not recognise in the balance sheet.

(m) Equity - contributions by owners itions to net assets which hae been esignate as contributions b owners are recognise as contribute caital. ther transfers that are in the nature of contributions or istributions hae also been esignate as contributions b owners.

(n) Commitments ommitments for future eeniture inclue oerating an caital commitments arising from contracts. hese commitments are isclose b wa of a note (refer to Note 1) at their nominal alue an inclusie of the goos an serices ta () aable. hese future eenitures cease to be isclose as commitments once the relate liabilities are recognise in the balance sheet.

ommitments an contingent assets an liabilities are also state inclusie of .

(o) Contingent assets and contingent liabilities ontingent assets an contingent liabilities are not recognise in the balance sheet, but are isclose b wa of a note an, if uantifiable, are measure at nominal alue. ontingent assets an contingent liabilities are resente inclusie of receiable or aable resectiel.

(p) Accounting for Goods and Services Tax (GST) ncome, eenses an assets are recognise net of the amount of associate , ecet where incurre is not recoerable from the taation authorit. n this case, the aable is recognise as art of the cost of acuisition of the asset or as art of the eense.

eceiables an aables are state inclusie of the amount of receiable or aable. he net amount of recoerable from, or aable to, the taation authorit is inclue with other receiables or aables in the balance sheet.

ash flows are resente on a gross basis. he comonents of cash flows arising from inesting or financing actiities, which are recoerable from or aable to the taation authorit, are resente as oerating cash flow.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 71

oal otanic arens oar ictoria 11 inancial eort age 1 Notes to the financial statements une

Note 1. Summary of accounting policies (continued)

(q) Foreign currency ll foreign currency transactions during the financial year are rought to account using the echange rate in effect at the date of the transaction. oreign monetary items eisting at the end of the reporting period are translated at the closing rate at the date of the end of the reporting period.

oreign currency translation differences are recognised in other economic flos and accumulated in a separate component of euity, in the period in hich they arise.

(r) Events after reporting date ssets, liailities, income or epenses arise from past transactions or other past events. here the transactions result from an agreement eteen the oard and other parties, the transactions are only recognised hen the agreement is irrevocale at or efore alance date. dustments are made to amounts recognised in the financial statements for events hich occur after the reporting date and efore the date the statements are authorised for issue, here those events provide information aout conditions hich eisted at the reporting date. ote, disclosure is made aout events eteen the alance date and the date the statements are authorised for issue here the events relate to conditions hich arose after the reporting date and hich may have a material impact on the results of suseuent years.

(s) AAS issued that are not yet effective ertain ne have een pulished that are not mandatory for the une reporting period. he assesses the impact of these ne standards and advises the oard of their applicaility and early adoption here applicale.

he tale elo outlines the accounting standards that have een issued ut are not yet effective for the reporting period, hich may result in potential impacts on the oards reporting for future periods

Standard/Interpretation Summary Application Impact on Board's Financial for annual Statements reporting periods: evenue from he core principle of reuires an an he changes in revenue recognition ontracts ith entity to recognise revenue hen the reuirements in may result in ustomers entity satisfies a performance oligation changes to the timing and amount of y transferring a promised good or service revenue recorded in the financial to a customer. statements. he tandard ill also reuire additional disclosures on service revenue and contract modifications.

his tandard amends to clarify an he assessment has indicated that there mendments to the reuirements on identifying ill e no significant impact for the ustralian ccounting performance oligations, principal versus pulic sector, other than the impact Standards – Clarifications agent considerations and the timing of identified in . to recognising revenue from granting a licence. he amendments reuire • A promise to transfer to a customer a good or service that is ‘distinct’ to be recognised as a separate performance oligation • For items purchased online, the entity is a principal if it otains control of the good or service prior to transferring to the customer and • For licences identified as being distinct from other goods or services in a contract, entities need to determine hether the licence transfers to the customer over time right to use or at a point in time right to access. mends roperty, lant and an he assessment has indicated that there mendments to uipment and ntangile is no epected impact as the revenue ustralian ccounting ssets to ased method is not used for Standards – Clarification • establish the principle for the basis of depreciation and amortisation. of cceptale ethods of depreciation and amortisation as eing the epreciation and epected pattern of consumption of the mortisation future economic enefits of an asset • prohibit the use of revenue based methods to calculate the depreciation or amortisation of an asset, tangile or intangile, ecause revenue generally reflects the pattern of economic enefits that are generated from operating the usiness, rather than consumption through the use of the asset.

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oyal otanic ardens oard ictoria inancial eport age Notes to the financial statements une

Note 1. Summary of accounting policies (continued)

Standard/Interpretation Summary Application Impact on Board's Financial for annual Statements reporting periods: AAS he Amendments etend the scope of an he amending standard ill result in Amendments to AAS elated arty isclosures to not etended disclosures on the entitys ey Australian Accounting forprofit public sector entities A management personnel , and the Standards – Extending guidance note has been included to assist related party transactions elated arty isclosures the application of the Standard by notfor to otforrofit ublic profit public sector entities Sector ntities AAS , AAS AAS AAS eases he core principle of AAS reuires an an he assessment has indicated that as he ey changes introduced by AAS most operating leases ill come on include the recognition of most operating balance sheet, recognition of lease leases hich are current not recognised assets and lease liabilities ill cause net on balance sheet debt to increase epreciation of lease assets and interest on lease liabilities ill be recognised in the income statement ith marginal impact on the operating surplus he amounts of cash paid for the principal portion of the lease liability ill be presented ithin financing activities and the amounts paid for the interest portion ill be presented ithin operating activities in the cash flo statement o change for lessors AAS his Standard defers the mandatory an his amending standard ill defer the Amendments to effective date of AAS from anuary application period of AAS to the Australian Accounting to anuary reporting period in accordance Standards – Effective ith the transition reuirements ate of AAS AAS Amends the methods of disposal in AAS an he assessment has indicated that hen Amendments to oncurrent assets held for sale and an asset or disposal group is Australian Accounting discontinued operations reclassified from ‘held to sale’ to ‘held Standards – Annual for distribution’, or vice versa, the asset mprovements to does not have to be reinstated in the Australian Accounting financial statements Standards ntities ill be reuired to disclose all Cycle AAS , AAS , types of continuing involvement the AAS , AAS , AAS , entity still has hen transferring a AAS , AAS , AAS financial asset to a third party under , AAS , AAS , conditions hich allo it to derecognise AAS , AAS the asset AAS AAS he standard amends AAS an he assessment has indicated that there Amendments to mpairment of Assets to remove is minimal impact iven the specialised Australian Accounting references to using depreciated nature and restrictions of public sector Standards – Recoverable replacement cost C as a measure of assets, the eisting use is presumed to Amount of onCash value in use for notforprofit entities be the highest and best use , enerating Specialised hence current replacement cost under Assets of otforrofit AAS Fair alue easurement is the ntities same as the depreciated replacement cost concept under AAS

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 73

oyal otanic ardens oard ictoria Financial eport age Notes to the Financial Statements une

Note 2. Income from transactions

2016 2015 $ $

(a) Grants ars and Reserves rust Account grants ,, ,, ther grants , , 16,862,410 15,231,662 (b) Sponsorships and donations ash donations and gifts ,, ,, 1,613,427 1,771,407 (c) Sales of goods and services Sale of goods ,, ,, Rendering of services ,, ,, 2,617,297 2,690,202 (d) Fair value of assets and services received free of charge or for nominal consideration Services and donated sulies , , 958,337 829,864 (e) Interest n ban deosits , , ther miscellaneous interest income , , 191,064 241,707 (f) Other income Rental ,, ,, Roalties , , ther , , 1,321,801 1,523,302

Note 3. Expenses from transactions

2016 2015 $ $

(a) Employee expenses Salar and ages ,, ,, Suerannuation ,, ,, Annual and long service leave ,, ,, ther oncosts , , 15,133,540 13,783,622 (b) Depreciation uildings , , nfrastructure ,, ,, lant, euiment and vehicles , , 2,155,415 1,995,751 (c) Interest expense nterest on finance leases , , 22,576 25,543

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Roal otanic ardens oard ictoria inancial Reort age Notes to the Financial Statements une

Note 3. Expenses from transactions (continued)

2016 2015 $ $

(d) Other operating expenses Sulies and services ontract costs ,, ,, arden and office euiment and sulies , , onfinancial assets hire, maintenance and oerational costs , , onsultancies and rofessional services , , leaning and aste disosal costs , , ater charges , , Advertising and romotion , , otor vehicle exenses , , omuter exenses , , ravel exenses , , Staff training and develoment , , nsurance costs , , ostage and communication exenses , , oos, eriodicals and subscritions , , egal costs , , Securit , , atering costs , , ther , , 7,179,673 6,297,658 ther ost of goods sold , , inimum lease aments , , 575,764 608,454

Total other operating expenses 7,755,437 6,906,112

Note 4. Other economic flows included in net result

2016 2015 $ $

(a) Net gain/(loss) on non-financial assets et gainloss on disosal of roert, lant and euiment , , mairment of roert, lant and euiment , , rite don of inventor , , 67,442 86,386 (b) Net gain/(loss) on financial instruments et gainloss arising from foreign cash held , , (9,729) (1,497) (c) Other gains/(losses) from economic flows et gainloss arising from revaluation of long service leave liabilit , , (244,632) (123,110)

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 75

Roal otanic ardens oard ictoria inancial Reort age Notes to the Financial Statements une

Note 5. Receivables

2016 2015 $ $

Contractual Sales of goods and services i , , Accrued interest income , , 582,367 916,250 Statutory et S inut tax credit recoverable , , 39,232 13,499

Total receivables (ii) 621,599 929,749 ote i he average credit eriod on sales of goods and services is das nterest ma be charged on amounts aable b tenants in the event that these aments become overdue according to the terms of the lease or licence agreement o alloance for doubtful debts has been recognised as all amounts have been determined recoverable b reference to ast default exerience ii All receivables balances held at reorting date are classified as current

or details of ageing analsis of contractual receivables and the nature and extent of ris arising from contractual receivables, lease refer to ote

Note 6. Inventories

2016 2015 $ $

nventories held for sale at cost , , Total inventories (i) 233,432 230,303 ote i nventor balances held at reorting date are classified as current

Note 7. Non-financial physical assets classified as held-for-sale and directly associated liabilities

2016 2015 $ $

oncurrent assets eased vehicles held for sale i ii , 11,499 - iabilities inance lease liabilities , 11,197 -

ote i he oard holds vehicles under the leasing arrangement ith hich are aaiting sale at the end of the reorting eriod o imairment loss as recognised on reclassification of vehicles heldforsale or at the end of the reorting eriod ii he carring amounts of vehicles heldforsale aroximate fair value at the end of the reorting eriod based on the evel fair value classification

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Roal otanic ardens oard ictoria inancial Reort age Notes to the Financial Statements une

Note 8. Property, plant and equipment

(a) Carrying amounts

2016 2015 $ $

Land At fair value ,, ,, 254,400,000 166,080,000 Buildings At fair value ,, ,, ess accumulated dereciation , ,, 33,273,116 28,134,620 Infrastructure At fair value ,, ,, ess accumulated dereciation , ,, 63,831,412 49,948,302 Plant, equipment and vehicles At fair value ,, ,, ess accumulated dereciation ,, ,, 2,824,671 2,603,209 Cultural assets At fair value ,, ,, 251,386,773 167,183,416 Capital works under construction At fair value , , 46,050 816,021

Total property, plant and equipment 605,762,022 414,765,568

(b) Movements in carrying amounts (i)

2016 Land Buildings Infrastructure Plant, Cultural Capital works Total equipment assets and vehicles $ $ $ $ $ $ $

ening balance ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, , ,, Additions , , , , ,, isosals , , , Revaluations ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ransfers ii , , , , , , mairments , , ereciation , ,, , ,, Closing balance 254,400,000 33,273,116 63,831,412 2,824,671 251,386,773 46,050 605,762,022 ote i A full revaluation as erformed in une ii ransfers balances reresents amounts transferred beteen asset classes and out to disosal grou heldforsale

2015 Land Buildings Infrastructure Plant, Cultural Capital works Total equipment assets and vehicles $ $ $ $ $ $ $

ening balance ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, , ,, Additions , , , , ,, isosals , , Revaluations ransfers ii , , , mairments , , ereciation , ,, , ,, Closing balance 166,080,000 28,134,620 49,948,302 2,603,209 167,183,416 816,021 414,765,568 ote ii ransfers balances reresents amounts transferred beteen asset classes and out to disosal grou heldforsale

Restricted assets he oard holds million orth of buildings and infrastructure assets million listed as heritage assets on the ictorian eritage Register under the eritage Act hese heritage assets cannot be modified nor disosed of ithout aroval from eritage ictoria

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 77

Roal otanic ardens oard ictoria inancial Reort age Notes to the Financial Statements une

Note 8. Property, plant and equipment (continued)

(c) Fair Value measurement hierarchy for assets at the end of the reporting period

Fair value measurement using: (i) Carrying amount Level 2 Level 3 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 $ $ $ $ $

Land Secialised and ,, ,, ,, ,, 254,400,000 166,080,000 - - 254,400,000 166,080,000 Buildings Secialised buildings ,, ,, ,, ,, eritage assets ,, ,, ,, ,, 33,273,116 28,134,620 - - 33,273,116 28,134,620 Infrastructure Secialised infrastructure ,, ,, ,, ,, eritage assets , , , , 63,831,412 49,948,302 - - 63,831,412 49,948,302 Plant, equipment and vehicles lant and euiment ,, ,, ,, ,, ehicles ii , , , , 2,824,671 2,603,209 - - 2,824,671 2,603,209 Cultural assets Antiues and artor ,, ,, ,, ,, Secialised cultural assets ,, ,, ,, ,, 251,386,773 167,183,416 9,323,873 10,581,616 242,062,900 156,601,800 otes i lassified in accordance ith the fair value hierarch, see ote b he oard does not hold an assets classified as evel assets for the reorting eriods ended une and une ii ehicles are categorised as evel assets as fair value of the vehicles is estimated based on the dereciated relacement cost

here have been no transfers beteen levels during the eriod

onsecialised antiues and artors onsecialised antiues and artors are valued using the maret aroach nder this valuation method, valuation of the assets is determined b a comarison to similar examles of the artists or in existence throughout Australia and research on rices aid for similar examles offered at auction or through art galleries in recent ears An indeendent valuation of antiues and artor as undertaen b the aluereneral ictoria to determine their fair value at une

and and buildings he maret aroach is also used for secialised land, although it is adusted for the communit service obligation S to reflect the secialised nature of the land being valued

he S adustment is a reflection of the valuer’s assessment of the imact of restrictions associated ith an asset to the extent that is also euall alicable to maret articiants his aroach is in light of the highest and best use consideration reuired for fair value measurement, and taes into account the use of the asset that is hsicall ossible, legall ermissible, and financiall feasible As adustments of S are considered as significant unobservable inuts, secialised land ould be classified as evel assets

or the maorit of the Board’s secialised buildings, the dereciated relacement cost method is used, adusting for the associated dereciations As dereciation adustments are considered significant, unobservable inuts in nature, secialised buildings are classified as evel fair value measurements

An indeendent valuation of the Board’s secialised land and secialised buildings as erformed b the aluereneral ictoria he valuation as erformed using the maret aroach adusted for S he effective date of the valuation is une

Secialised cultural assets Secialised cultural assets, including the State otanical ollection, are valued using relacement cost method Relacement costs relate to costs to relace the current service caacit of the asset he method used calculates a unit cost er samle unit that is then scaled u to each collection

An indeendent valuation of the Board’s secialised cultural assets as erformed b the aluereneral ictoria he valuation as erformed using the relacement cost aroach he effective date of the valuation is une

nfrastructure assets nfrastructure assets are valued using the dereciated relacement cost method his cost reresents the relacement cost of the buildingcomonent after aling dereciation rates on a useful life basis Relacement costs relate to costs to relace the current service caacit of the asset Economic obsolescence has also been factored into the dereciated relacement cost calculation

here it has not been ossible to examine hidden ors such as structural frames and floors, the use of reasonable materials and methods of construction have been assumed, bearing in mind the age and nature of the building he estimated cost of reconstruction, including structural services and finishes, also factors in an heritage classifications as alicable

An indeendent valuation of the oards infrastructure assets as erformed b the aluereneral ictoria he valuation as erformed based on the dereciated relacement cost of the assets he effective date of the valuation is une

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Roal otanic ardens oard ictoria inancial Reort age Notes to the Financial Statements ue

Note 8. Property, plant and equipment (continued)

eles eles are valued us e dereaed relaee os eod e Board aures e veles ad a es dsoses o e eore e ed o er eoo le e roess o auso use ad dsosal e are s aaed uder ae leas arraees ad esa Ba ereao raes used rele e ulsao o e veles

la ad eue la ad eue s eld a ar value e la ad eue s sealsed use su a s rarel sold oer a as ar o a o oer ar value s deered us e dereaed relaee os eod

ere ere o aes valuao eues rouou e erod o ue

or all asses easured a ar value e urre use s osdered e es ad es use

(d) Reconciliation of Level 3 fair value

Specialised Buildings Antiques and Vehicles Plant and Infrastructure Specialised 2016 land artworks equipment Cultural $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Opening balance 166,080,000 28,134,620 10,581,616 449,285 2,153,924 49,948,302 156,601,800 urasessales rasers ou

as or losses reosed e resul ares ereao

as or losses reosed oer eoo los oer oreesve oe evaluaos Closing balance 254,400,000 33,273,116 9,323,873 815,700 2,008,971 63,831,412 242,062,900

Specialised Buildings Antiques and Vehicles Plant and Infrastructure Specialised 2015 land artworks equipment Cultural $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Opening balance 166,080,000 28,473,015 10,571,070 518,586 2,176,942 50,369,326 156,601,800 urasessales rasers ou

as or losses reosed e resul ares ereao

as or losses reosed oer eoo los oer oreesve oe evaluaos Closing balance 166,080,000 28,134,620 10,581,616 449,285 2,153,924 49,948,302 156,601,800

(e) Description of significant unobservable inputs to Level 3 valuations for 2015 and 2016

Asset Category Valuation technique Significant unobservable inputs

ealsed ad • Market approach • Community Service Obligation (CSO) aduse Bulds sealsed ad erae • Depreciated Replacement Cost • Direct cost per square metre • Useful life of buildings eles • Depreciated Replacement Cost • Cost per unit • Useful life of vehicles la ad ue • Depreciated Replacement Cost • Cost per unit • Useful life of plant and equipment rasruure sealsed ad • Depreciated Replacement Cost • Cost per unit erae • Useful life of infrastructure assets ealsed ulural sses • Replacement Cost • Cost per unit • Size of collections

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 79

oal Boa ardes Board ora aal eor ae Notes to the Financial Statements une

Note 9. Payables

2016 2015 $ $

Contractual Supplies and Services (i) Other payables (ii) 871,016 492,192 Statutory aes payable 58,984 48,401

Total Payables (iii) 930,000 540,593 ote (i) he average credit period is days o interest is charged on late payments (ii) Other payables balances include security deposits and unearned income for hich the timing and amount payable varies according to the terms of agreement (iii) ll payables balances at reporting date are classified as current

or maturity analysis and nature and etent of risks arising from payables refer to ote

Note 10. Borrowings

2016 2015 $ $

Current ease liabilities (i) 324,810 259,659 Non-Current ease liabilities (i) 544,279 200,495

Total borrowings 869,089 460,154 ote (i) Secured by the assets leased inance leases are effectively secured as the rights to the leased assets revert to the lessor in the event of default

or maturity analysis and nature and etent of risks arising from borroings refer to ote

Note 11. Provisions

2016 2015 $ $

Current provisions mployee benefits (ote (a))(i) nnual eave Unconditional and epected to be settled ithin months (ii) Unconditional and epected to be settled after months (ii)

ong service leave Unconditional and epected to be settled ithin months (ii) Unconditional and epected to be settled after months (ii) Oncosts (ote (a) and ote (b)) Unconditional and epected to be settled ithin months (ii) Unconditional and epected to be settled after months (ii)

Total current provisions 4,291,697 3,906,076

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Royal otanic ardens oard ictoria inancial Report age Notes to the Financial Statements une

Note 11. Provisions (continued)

2016 2015 $ $

Non-current provisions mployee benefits (ote (a))(i) Oncosts (ote (a) and ote (b)) Total non-current provisions 271,089 250,579

Total provisions 4,562,786 4,156,655

ote (i) mployee benefits consist of annual leave and long service leave accrued by employees Oncosts such as payroll ta and workers’ compensation insurance are not employee benefits and are reflected as a separate provision (ii) mounts are measured at present values

(a) Employee benefits and related on-costs (i)

2016 2015 $ $

Current employee benefits nnual leave ong service leave 3,678,076 3,359,887 oncurrent employee benefits nnual leave ong service leave 232,329 215,540

Total employee benefits 3,910,405 3,575,427

Current oncosts oncurrent oncosts Total on-costs 652,381 581,228

Total employee benefits and related on-costs 4,562,786 4,156,655 ote (i) Employee benefits consist of annual leave and long service leave accrued by employees. On-costs such as payroll tax and workers’ compensation insurance are not employee benefits and are recognised as a separate provision

(b) Movement in provisions

2016 2015 $ $

Opening balance dditional provision recognised Reductions arising from payments () () Reductions resulting from settlement ithout cost () () ffect of changes in discount rate () () Closing balance 652,381 581,228

Note 12. Superannuation

mployees of the oard are entitled to receive superannuation benefits and the oard contributes to both defined benefit and defined contribution plans he defined benefit plans provide benefits based on years of service and final average salary

he oard does not recognise any defined benefit liability in respect of the plans because the entity has no legal or constructive obligation to pay future benefits relating to its employees its obligation is to pay superannuation contributions as they fall due he responsibility for the unfunded liabilities associated ith these defined benefit plans is held by State overnment and is accordingly disclosed in the financial statements of the Department of reasury and inance

oever superannuation contributions paid or payable for the reporting period are included as part of the employee benefits in the comprehensive operating statement of the oard

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 81

Royal otanic ardens oard ictoria inancial Report age Notes to the Financial Statements une

Note 12. Superannuation (continued)

he name and details of the maor employee superannuation funds and contributions made by the oard are as follows

Number of employees Contribution rate % (i) Contribution amount $ (ii) Fund Name 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015

Defined benefit plans tate uperannuation und evised cheme . . ew cheme . - . . - .

Defined contribution plans icuper . . uperannuation und . . niuper anagement . . ustralian uper . . ision uper . . ost lus uper . . ustralian Ethical etail uper . . elf anaged uper unds . . E uper . . Other . . Total paid contributions for the year $ 1,176,110 $ 1,136,053

Contributions outstanding at year end $ - $ - otes i he bases for contributions are determined by the various schemes. ii he amounts were measured as at une of each year or in the case of employer contributions relate to the years ended une.

Note 13. Leases

(a) Finance leases

easing arrangements inance leases relate to vehicles with lease terms of between and years. he oard has the option to purchase the vehicles for a nominal amount at the conclusion of the lease agreements.

Minimum lease payments (i) Present value of minimum future lease payments 2016 2015 2016 2015 $ $ $ $

ot longer than year onger than year and not longer than years onger than years - - Minimum lease payments 937,430 491,264 869,089 460,154

ess future finance charges - - Present value of minimum lease payments 869,089 460,154 869,089 460,154

Included in the financial statements as: urrent borrowings lease liabilities ote on-current borrowings lease liabilities ote 869,089 460,154

ote inimum future finance lease payments include the aggregate of all lease payments and any guaranteed residual. i or maturity analysis and nature and extent of risks arising from finance lease liabilities refer to ote .

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oyal otanic ardens oard ictoria - inancial eport age Notes to the Financial Statements une

Note 13. Leases (continued)

(b) Operating leases easing arrangements - oard as essee Operating leases mainly relate to specialised gardening vehicles and office euipment with a lease term of up to years. ll operating lease contracts contain market review clauses in the event that the oard exercises its option to renew. he oard does not have an option to purchase the leased asset at the expiry of the lease period. he operating leases relating to gardening vehicles have been reclassified as finance leases during the reporting period ended une .

2016 2015 $ $

ot longer than year onger than year and not longer than years 22,134 219,015

easing arrangements - oard as essor Operating leases mainly relate to the provision of catering and function and event management in the ardens with lease terms of between and years and options to extend for a further to years. ll operating lease contracts contain market review clauses in the event that the oard or lessee exercises its option to renew. he lessees do not have an option to purchase the leased asset at the expiry of the lease period.

2016 2015 $ $

ot longer than year onger than year and not longer than years 1,753,114 1,107,218

Note 14. Commitments for expenditure

he following expenditure commitments have not been recognised as liabilities in the financial statements

2016 2015 $ $

(a) Capital expenditure commitments ithin year - ater than year but not later than years Total 10,407 254,458

(b) Other commitments - outsourcing (i) ithin year ater than year but not later than years Total 163,962 208,902 ote i ommitments under other outsourcing contracts for building maintenance and security. ii ll amounts shown in the commitment note are nominal amounts including . iii inance leases and non-cancellable operating lease commitments are disclosed in ote .

Note 15. Financial instruments

(a) Financial risk management objectives and policies

he oards principal financial instruments comprise h cash assets h term deposits h receivables excluding statutory receivables h payables excluding statutory payables and h borrowings.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 83

oyal otanic ardens oard ictoria - inancial eport age Notes to the Financial Statements une

Note 15. Financial instruments (continued)

etails of the significant accounting policies and methods adopted including the criteria for recognition the basis of measurement and the basis on which income and expenses are recognised with respect to each class of financial asset financial liability and euity instrument are disclosed in ote to the financial statements.

he main purpose in holding financial instruments is to prudentially manage the oards financial risks within the reuirements of the oyal otanic ardens ct and the overnments policy parameters.

he Board’s main financial risks include credit risk liuidity risk interest rate risk and foreign currency risk. he oard manages these financial risks in accordance with its financial risk management policy.

he oard uses different methods to measure and manage the different risks to which it is exposed. rimary responsibility for the identification and management of financial risks rests with the inance and udit ommittee of the oard.

he carrying amounts of the oards contractual financial assets and financial liabilities by category are as follows

Carrying amount 2016 2015 $ $

Contractual financial assets oans and receivables ash and deposits ales of goods and services ccrued interest income Total (i) 7,898,831 6,777,252

Contractual financial liabilities t amortised cost upplies and services payables Other payables ease liabilities Total (i) 1,740,105 952,346 ote i he total amounts disclosed here exclude statutory receivables ie input tax credit recoverable and taxes payable.

he oards net holding gains on contractual financial assets and liabilities by category are as follows

2016 2015 $ $

Contractual financial assets inancial assets - loans and receivables Total 191,064 241,707

Contractual financial liabilities inancial liabilities at amortised cost Total (22,576) (25,543)

he net holding gains or losses disclosed above are determined as follows h for cash and cash euivalents and receivables the net gain or loss is calculated by taking the movement in the interest income earned during the reporting period and h for financial liabilities measured at amortised cost the net gain or loss is eual to the interest expense incurred during the reporting period.

(b) Credit Risk

redit risk arises from the contractual financial assets of the oard which comprise cash and cash euivalents and non-statutory receivables contractual financial assets. he Board’s exposure to credit risk arises from the potential default of counter parties on their contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the oard. redit risk is measured at fair value and is monitored on a regular basis.

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oyal otanic ardens oard ictoria - inancial eport age Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 15. Financial instruments (continued)

rd rs assoad Boards oraa aa asss s a sa rao o s sas o oods ad srs ras d o adoo o sr rd sas ad oo os ad rodrs addo Board dos o a d or s oraa aa asss ad a oas oraa aa asss a ar o d rs or as asss ar a as a a s o or dors Board’s o s o o da as rd ras

roso o ar or oraa aa asss s rosd r s o d a Board o a o o a ra d ds aa ds o dor da as ds ar or a das ord ad as dor rd ras

arr ao o oraa aa asss rordd aa sas o a aoas or osss rrss Boards a osr o rd rs o a ao o a o a oara oad

a aass o Boards oraa aa asss s as oos

Carrying Not past due Past due but not impaired 2016 Amount and not Less than 1 1 - 3 months 3 months - 1 1 - 5 years impaired month year $ $ $ $ $ $

as o oods ad srs rd rs o Total 582,367 424,069 11,825 117,981 28,492 -

Carrying Not past due Past due but not impaired 2015 Amount and not Less than 1 1 - 3 months 3 months - 1 1 - 5 years impaired month year $ $ $ $ $ $

as o oods ad srs rd rs o Total 916,250 653,367 16,916 162,103 83,864 - o oa aos dsosd r d saor ras a rd rora ad as aa

oraa aa asss a ar r as d or ard r ar o ara aa asss ar dda drd o ard rr Board dos o od a oara as sr or rd as ra o a o s oraa aa asss

s a ror da r ar o s o da a a roso or ar s rrd o Boards aa asss o ar oss o oas ad ras as rosd Boards ors ora sa rr o o

r ar o aa asss a a ad r rs road so as o r ro as d or ard ad ar sad a arr aos as dad o aa asss d Board a ror da a ar as d o ard ar sas o oods ad srs ras

(c) Liquidity risk

d rs s rs a Board od a o s aa oaos as ad a d Boards a osr o d rs s arr aos o aa as as dsosd a o aa s Board oos aas rs ro oor r as os ad ars a o sr ada od o a d asss ad da d ars

Boards osr o d rs s dd sa asd o ror periods’ daa ad rr assss o rs as or d s s ra sord ro s as ad doss aa

ar aass or Boards oraa aa as s as oos

Carrying Nominal Maturity dates 2016 amount (i) amount (ii) Less than 1 1- 3 months 3 months - 1 1 - 5 years More than month year years $ $ $ $ $ $ $

s ad srs r aas as as Total 1,740,105 1,808,447 971,788 63,638 189,676 541,917 41,428

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 85

oa Boa ards Board ora aa or a Notes to the Financial Statements e

Note 15. Financial instruments (continued)

Carrying Nominal Maturity dates 2015 amount (i) amount (ii) Less than 1 1- 3 months 3 months - 1 1 - 5 years More than month year years $ $ $ $ $ $ $

ppies ad series er paaes ease iaiiies To 952,346 983,456 508,140 36,649 228,066 210,601 - tal oe i e arri aos disosed ede saor aos e paae ii ari aasis is preseed si e oraa disoed as os ie oia ao

(d) Market risk

The Board’s exposures to market risk are primarily through foreign currency and interest rate risk.

orei rre ris orei rre ris is e ris a e air ae o a iaia isre i ae de o a oee i orei rre eae raes e Board eers io a reaie sa er o rasaios deoiaed i orei rreies redi is eposre o orei rre ris ro oios oiori o oees i eae raes ad esri aaiaii o ds ro rioros as o pai ad oiori

e Board as iia eposre o orei rre ris ro is orei rre a deposis ad paaes aaes i are deoiaed i orei rreies

eres rae ris air ae ieres rae ris is e ris a e air ae o a iaia isre i ae ease o aes i are ieres raes e Board does o od a ieres eari iaia isres a are easred a air ae ad ereore as i eposre o air ae ieres rae ris

as o ieres rae ris is e ris a e re as os o a iaia isre i ae ease o aes i are ieres raes

e Board as iia eposre o as o ieres rae ris ro is as ad deposis ad ease iaiiies a are a a oai rae

e Board aaes is ris ai derai ied rae or oieres eari iaia isres i reaie ee ari proies i o isiiia aos o iaia isres a a oai rae aaee as oded a as a a iaia asses a e e a oai rae io eessari eposi e Board o siiia ad ris oees i ieres raes are oiored o a dai asis aaee

e arri aos o iaia asses ad iaia iaiiies a are eposed o ieres raes are as oos

Weighted Carrying Interest rate exposure 2016 average amount (i) Fixed interest Variable Non-interest effective rate interest rate bearing interest rate % $ $ $ $

Financial assets as ad deposis aes o oods ad series red ieres ioe 7,898,831 3,995,000 3,274,967 628,864 Financial liabilities ppies ad series paaes er paaes ease iaiiies 1,740,105 869,089 - 871,016

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oa Boai ardes Board ioria iaia epor ae Notes to the Financial Statements une

Note 15. Financial instruments (continued)

Weighted Carrying Interest rate exposure 2015 average amount (i) Fixed interest Variable Non-interest effective rate interest rate bearing interest rate % $ $ $ $

Financial assets ash and deposits . ales of goods and serices ccrued interest income 6,777,252 4,495,000 1,217,800 1,064,452 Financial liabilities upplies and serices payales ther payales ease liailities . 952,346 460,154 - 492,192 ote The carrying amounts disclosed here exclude statutory amounts eg T input tax credit recoerale and T payale. i ensitiity disclosure analysis and assumptions The Boards sensitiity to market risk is determined ased on past performance future expectations and economic forecasts and accordingly the Board eliees that the folloing moements are reasonaly possile oer the next months h a moement of asis points up and don in interest rates and h a moement of per cent don and per cent up in exchange rates.

The impact on net result for each category of financial instrument held y the Board at year end if the aoe moements ere to occur is as follos

Interest rate Carrying amount Net result Net result + 100 basis points -100 basis points 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 $ $ $ $ $ $

Contractual financial assets ash and deposits i 7,316,464 5,861,002 72,700 57,128 (72,700) (57,128) Contractual financial liabilities Borroings ii 869,089 460,154 8,691 4,602 (8,691) (4,602) ote i ash and deposits includes deposits of that are exposed to floating rate moements. ensitiities to these moements are calculated as follos h x . and x . and h x . and x . . ii Borroings include lease liailities to the alue of that are exposed to moements in interest rates. ensitiities to these moements are calculated as follos h x . and x . and h x . and x . .

Foreign exchange Carrying amount Net result Net result +5% -10% 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 $ $ $ $ $ $

Contractual financial assets ash and deposits i 7,316,464 5,861,002 1,918 426 (3,835) (853) Contractual financial liabilities ayales ii 802,358 438,085 - - - - ote i ash and deposits includes a deposit of that is exposed to foreign exchange moements. ensitiities to these moements are calculated as follos h x . and x . and h x . and x . . ii ayales includes a alance of that is exposed to foreign exchange moements. ensitiities to these moements are calculated as follos h . h .

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 87

oyal Botanic ardens Board ictoria inancial eport age Notes to the Financial Statements une

Note 15. Financial instruments (continued)

(e) Fair value

The fair alues and net fair alues of financial assets and financial liailities are determined as follos h eel the fair alue of the financial instrument ith standard terms and conditions and traded in actie liuid markets is determined ith reference to uoted market prices and h eel the fair alue is determined using inputs other than uoted prices that are oserale for the financial asset or liaility either directly or indirectly.

The Board currently holds a range of financial instruments that are recorded in the financial statements here the carrying amounts are a reasonale approximation of fair alue either due to their short term nature or ith the expectation that they ill e paid in full y the end of the reporting period. These financial instruments include

Financial assets Financial liabilities

ash and deposits ayales eceiales • For supplies and services h ale of goods and serices • Other payables h ccrued inestment income nestments and other contractual financial assets h Term deposits

here the fair alue of the financial instruments is different from the carrying amounts the folloing information has een included to disclose the difference.

Carrying Fair value Carrying Fair value amount amount 2016 2016 2015 2015 $ $ $ $

Financial liabilities ease liailities 869,089 869,089 460,154 460,154

Note 16. Cash flow information

(a) Reconciliation of cash and deposits

2016 2015 $ $

ash at ank and on hand Term deposits 7,316,464 5,861,002

(b) Reconciliation of the net result for the period to net cash flows from operating activities

2016 2015 $ $

et result for the period

oncash moements ainloss on sale or disposal of noncurrent assets et gainloss on financial instruments mpairment of nonfinancial assets epreciation of nonfinancial assets

oements in assets and liailities ncreasedecrease in receiales ncreasedecrease in inentories ncreasedecrease in other nonfinancial assets ncreasedecrease in payales ncreasedecrease in proisions

Net cash from/(used in) operating activities 1,490,429 2,134,640

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oyal Botanic ardens Board ictoria inancial eport age Notes to the Financial Statements une

Note 17. Reserves

2016 2015 $ $

Physical asset revaluation surplus (i) alance at beinnin o inancial year evaluation increentsdecreents pairent losses alance at end o inancial year 498,826,315 307,062,183

Net change in reserves 498,826,315 307,062,183 ote i he physical assets revaluation surplus arises on the revaluation o land by illion illion buildins by illion illion inrastructure assets by illion illion and cultural assets by illion illion

Note 18. Responsible persons

n accordance ith the inisterial irections issued by the inister or Finance under the Financial anaeent ct the olloin disclosures are ade reardin responsible persons or the reportin period

Names he persons ho held the positions o inister overnin oard and ccountable Oicer o the oyal otanic ardens ictoria are as ollos

inisters inister or nvironent and liate hane on isa eville uly to ay inister or nery nvironent and liate hane on ily brosio ay to une

overnin oard hairan r en arrison uly to une eputy hairan ro pril and eber rs enny Foler uly to une eputy hairan r raha unninha uly to uly eber ro ntony acic uly to une eber s ennier olcott uly to une eber r artyn yer O uly to pril eber s arah riley uly to pril eber ro ob das pril to une eber Msillian Jillian iseley Riseley pril to une eber Msusanne Susanne illiason Williamson pril to une

ccountable Oicer irector and hie ecutive ro i ntisle uly to une

Remuneration he nuber o responsible persons other than the inister and their total reuneration in connection ith the anaeent o the oyal otanic ardens ictoria durin the reportin period are shon in the irst to coluns in the table belo in their relevant incoe bands he base reuneration o responsible persons is shon in the third and ourth coluns ase reuneration is eclusive o bonus payents lonservice leave payents redundancy payents and retireent beneits

Income Band Total Remuneration Base Remuneration 2016 2015 2016 2015 No. No. No. No.

$0 – 9,999 $260,000 – 269,999 $270,000 – 279,999 $280,000 – 289,999 $290,000 – 299,999 Total numbers 11 8 11 8

Total amount $327,657 $326,056 $311,206 $310,036

ounts relatin to the inister are reported in the inancial stateents o the epartent o reier and abinet

Other Transactions

Other related transactions and loans reuirin disclosure under the inisterial irections issued by the inister or Finance have been considered and there are no atters to report

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 89

oyal otanic ardens oard ictoria Financial eport ae Notes to the Financial Statements 0 206

Note 19. Remuneration of executives

, , , ,

Income Band Total Remuneration Base Remuneration 2016 2015 2016 2015 No. No. No. No.

$160,000 – 169,999 $170,000 – 179,999 $180,000 – 189,999 $190,000 – 199,999 $200,000 – 209,999 Total number of executives 5 5 5 5 Total annualised employee equivalents (AEE) (i) 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 Total amount $940,420 $1,013,157 $873,660 $946,823 8 2

, , or indirectly, the Board’s activities during the reporting period ended 30 June 2016.

Note 20. Remuneration of auditors

2016 2015 $ $

Victorian Auditor-General's Office 9,900 9,00 19,900 19,400

Note 21. Glossary of terms and style conventions

Glossary

,

, ,

, ,

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206 Notes to the Financial Statements 30 June 2016

Note 21. Glossary of terms and style conventions (continued)

inancial asset inancial asset is any asset that is a cash an euity instruent o another entity c a contractual right h to receive cash or another inancial asset ro another entity or h to echange inancial assets or inancial liailities ith another entity under conditions that are potentially avourale to the entity or d a contract that will or may be settled in the entity’s own equity instruments and is: h a non-derivative for which the entity is or may be obliged to receive a variable number of the entity’s own equity instruents or h a derivative that ill or ay e settled other than y the echange o a ied aount o cash or another inancial asset for a fixed number of the entity’s own equity instruments.

inancial instruent inancial instruent is any contract that gives rise to a inancial asset o one entity and a inancial liaility or euity instruent o another entity. inancial assets or liailities that are not contractual such as statutory receivales or payales that arise as a result o statutory reuireents iposed y governents are not inancial instruents.

inancial liaility inancial liaility is any liaility that is a contractual oligation h to deliver cash or another inancial asset to another entity or h to echange inancial assets or inancial liailities ith another entity under conditions that are potentially unavourale to the entity.

inancial stateents epending on the contet o the sentence here the ter ‘financial statements’ is used, it ay include only the ain inancial stateents ie coprehensive operating stateent, alance sheet, cash lo stateent, and stateent o changes in euity or it ay also e used to replace the old ter ‘financial report’ under the revised B 101 ept 2007, hich eans it ay include the ain inancial stateents and the notes.

nrastructure systes nrastructure systes provide essential services used in the delivery o inal services or products. hey are generally a cople interconnected netor o individual assets and ainly include seage systes and ater storage and supply systes.

nterest epense osts incurred in connection ith the orroing o unds. nterest epenses include interest on an overdrats and shortter and long ter orroings, aortisation o discounts or preius relating to orroings, the interest coponent o inance lease repayents, and the increase in inancial liailities and noneployee provisions due to the uninding o discounts to relect the passage o tie.

nterest incoe nterest incoe includes interest received on an ter deposits, interest ro investents, and other interest received.

et acuisition o noninancial assets ro transactions urchases and other acuisitions o noninancial assets less sales or disposals o noninancial assets less depreciation plus changes in inventories and other oveents in noninancial assets. ncludes only those increases or decreases in noninancial assets resulting ro transactions and thereore ecludes rite os, ipairent rite dons and revaluations.

et result et result is a easure o inancial perorance o the operations or the period. t is the net result o ites o revenue, gains and expenses (including losses) recognised for the period, excluding those that are classified as ‘other non-owner changes in equity’.

et result ro transactionsnet operating alance et result ro transactions or net operating alance is a ey iscal aggregate and is revenue ro transactions inus epenses ro transactions. t is a suary easure o the ongoing sustainaility o operations. t ecludes gains and losses resulting ro changes in price levels and other changes in the volue o assets. t is the coponent o the change in net orth that is due to transactions and can e attriuted directly to governent policies.

et orth ssets less liailities, hich is an econoic easure o ealth.

oninancial assets oninancial assets are all assets that are not ‘financial assets’. t includes inventories, land, uildings, inrastructure, plant, euipent and vehicles, and cultural and heritage assets.

ther econoic los ther econoic los are changes in the volue or value o an asset or liaility that do not result ro transactions. hey include gains and losses ro disposals, revaluations and ipairents o noncurrent physical and intangile assets actuarial gains and losses arising ro deined eneit superannuation plans air value changes o inancial instruents and agricultural assets and depletion o natural assets nonproduced ro their use or reoval. n siple ters, other econoic los are changes arising ro aret re easureents.

ayales ncludes shortter and longter trade det and accounts payale, grants, taes and interest payale.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 91

oyal Botanic ardens Board ictoria 20116 inancial eport age 3 Notes to the Financial Statements une

Note 21. Glossary of terms and style conventions (continued)

eceivables ncludes short-term and long-term trade credit and accounts receivable, grants, taxes and interest receivable.

ales of goods and services efers to revenue from the direct provision of goods and services and includes fees and charges for services rendered, sales of goods and services, fees from regulatory services and wor done as an agent for private enterprises. t also includes rental income under operating leases and on produced assets such as buildings and entertainment, but excludes rent income from the use of non-produced assets such as land. ser charges includes sale of goods and services revenue.

upplies and services upplies and services generally represent cost of goods sold and the day-to-day running costs, including maintenance costs, incurred in the normal operations of the oard.

ransactions ransactions are those economic flows that are considered to arise as a result of policy decisions, usually an interaction between two entities by mutual agreement. hey also include flows within an entity such as depreciation where the owner is simultaneously acting as the owner of the depreciating asset and as the consumer of the service provided by the asset. axation is regarded as mutually agreed interactions between the government and taxpayers. ransactions can be in ind (eg assets providedgiven free of charge or for nominal consideration) or where the final consideration is cash. n simple terms, transactions arise from the policy decisions of the government.

Style conventions igures in the tables and in the text have been rounded. ny discrepancies in tables between totals and sums of components reflect rounding. ercentage variations in all tables are based on the underlying unrounded amounts.

he notation used in the tables is as follows: - ero, or rounded to ero (xxx) negative numbers x year x-x year period

he financial statements and notes are presented based on the illustration in the - odel eport for ictorian overnment epartments. he presentation of other disclosures is generally consistent with the other disclosures made in earlier publications of the oards annual reports.

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oyal otanic ardens oard ictoria - inancial eport age Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 93 Page 94 Appendix One: Disclosure Index

Legislation Requirement Page reference Ministerial Directions Charter and purpose FRD 22G Manner of establishment and the relevant Ministers Page 3, 6 FRD 22G Purpose, functions, powers and duties Page 3 FRD 22G Key initiatives and projects Pages 20-45 FRD 22G Nature and range of services provided Page 4-5 Management and structure FRD 22G Organisational structure Page 9 Financial and other information FRD 8D Performance against output performance measures Pages 15 FRD 10A Disclosure index Page 95 FRD 12A Disclosure of major contracts NA FRD 15C Executive officer disclosures Page 90 FRD 22G Employment and conduct principles Page 12-13 FRD 22G Occupational health and safety policy Page 12 FRD 22G Summary of the financial results for the year Page 15 FRD 22G Significant changes in financial position during the year Page 15 FRD 22G Major changes or factors affecting performance Page 15 FRD 22G Subsequent events Page 15 FRD 22G Application and operation of Freedom of Information Act 1982 Page 98 FRD 22G Compliance with building and maintenance provisions of Building Act 1993 Page 98 FRD 22G Statement on National Competition Policy Page 96 FRD 22G Application and operation of the Protected Disclosure 2012 Page 99 FRD 22G Details of consultancies over $10 000 Page 17 FRD 22G Details of consultancies under $10 000 Page 17 FRD 22G Disclosure of government advertising expenditure Page 96 FRD 22G Disclosure of ICT expenditure Page 96 FRD 22D Statement of availability of other information Page 96 FRD 24C Reporting of office based environmental impacts Page 43 FRD 25B Victorian Industry Participation Policy disclosures Page 96 FRD 29A Workforce Data disclosures Page 11-13 FRD 30C Standard requirements for the design and printing of annual reports Entire document SD 4.5.5 Attestation for compliance with Ministerial Standing Direction 4.5.5 Page 18 SD 4.2(g) Specific information requirements Entire document SD 4.2(j) Sign off requirements Page 58 Financial statements required under Part 7 of the FMA SD4.2(a) Statement of changes in equity Page 61 SD4.2(b) Operating statement Page 59 SD4.2(b) Balance sheet Page 60 SD4.2(b) Cash flow statement Page 62 Other requirements under Standing Directions 4.2 SD4.2(c) Compliance with Australian accounting standards and other authoritative pronouncements Page 63 SD4.2(c) Compliance with Ministerial Directions Page 63 SD4.2(d) Rounding of amounts Page 64 SD4.2(c) Accountable officer’s, chief finance officer’s and Board’s declaration Page 58 SD4.2(f) Compliance with Model Financial Report Page 57-94 Other disclosures as required by FRDs in notes to the financial statements FRD 102 Inventories Page 68, 76 FRD 103F Non Financial Physical Assets Page 68, 69 FRD 104 Foreign Currency Page 72 FRD 106 Impairment of Assets Page 66-68 FRD 110 Cash Flow Statement Page 62 FRD 112D Defined Benefit Superannuation Obligations Page 65, 81 FRD 114A Financial Instruments – General Government Entities and Public Non Financial Corporations Page 67, 83-88 Legislation Freedom of Information Act 1982 Building Act 1993 Victorian Industry Participation Policy Act 2003 Protected Disclosure Act 2012 Financial Management Act 1994 Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 95 Appendix Two: Other disclosures

STATEMENTS OF COMPLIANCE ‘ICT expenditure’ refers to the Royal Botanic Gardens WITH GOVERNMENT POLICY Victoria’s costs in providing business-enabling ICT services. It comprises Business As Usual (BAU) ICT National competition policy expenditure and Non-Business As Usual (Non-BAU) ICT Competitive neutrality seeks to enable fair competition expenditure. between government and private sector businesses. Any advantages or disadvantages that government ‘Non-BAU ICT expenditure’ relates to extending or businesses may experience, simply as a result of enhancing the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s current government ownership, should be neutralised. The Royal ICT capabilities. Botanic Gardens Board Victoria continues to implement ‘BAU ICT expenditure’ is all remaining ICT expenditure, and apply this principle in its business undertakings. which primarily relates to ongoing activities to operate Victorian Industry Participation Policy statement and maintain the current ICT capability. The Victorian Government’s Industry Participation Statement of availability of other information Policy seeks to maximise opportunities for Australian During 2015–16: and Victorian suppliers to compete for government • declarations of pecuniary interests were duly completed business on the basis of best value for money over the by all relevant officers life of the goods or services. The Policy is intended to • no shares were held by a senior officer as nominee, or encourage growth in Victorian industry, employment held beneficially in a statutory authority or subsidiary and technology. • ARCUE was reviewed by a panel of external experts, As both Melbourne Gardens and Cranbourne Gardens providing a report to the Director and Chief Executive in are located within metropolitan Melbourne, the Royal December 2015. Botanic Gardens Board Victoria requires tenderers for projects with a value greater than $3 million to • In addition, subject to the Freedom of Information demonstrate that they have genuinely considered Act 1982, the following information is available on the industry development implications of their tender request from the Director and Chief Executive, by completing a Victorian Government Industry Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: Participation Policy statement as part of the tendering • details of publications produced by the Royal Botanic and evaluation process. Where there are two or Gardens Victoria about itself, and how these can be more tenders that offer similar value for money, obtained this information may be used to differentiate between • details of changes in prices, fees, charges, rates and the value and benefit of the tenders. levies charged by the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Tenderers are required to specify the level of local • details of major research and development activities value added, provide details of actual new employment undertaken by the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria opportunities to be created and the proportion to be • details of overseas visits undertaken, including a filled by people from the local community, identify summary of the objectives and outcomes of each visit opportunities for increasing the skills of Victorians and • details of major promotional, public relations and Australians, and identify the potential to undertake marketing activities undertaken by the Royal Botanic technology innovation, research and development. Gardens Victoria to develop community awareness During 2015–16, no tenders for projects at the Royal of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and its services Botanic Gardens Victoria were of sufficient value • details of assessments and measures undertaken to require the inclusion of a Victorian Government to improve the occupational health and safety Industry Participation Policy statement in the of employees tender documentation. • a general statement on industrial relations within the Advertising expenditure Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, and details of time lost The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria’s expenditure through industrial accidents and disputes in the 2015–16 reporting period on advertising campaign • a list of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s major expenditure did not exceed $100,000. committees, the purposes of each committee, and the Information and Communications Technology extent to which the purposes have been achieved (ICT) expenditure • details of all consultancies and contractors including For the 2015–16 reporting period, the Royal Botanic consultants/contractors engaged, services provided, Gardens Victoria had a total ICT expenditure of and expenditure committed to for each engagement. $1,176,000 with the details shown below. Compliance with DataVic Access Policy ($ thousand) Consistent with the DataVic Access Policy issued by the Victorian Government in 2012, the Royal Botanic Business-As-Usual (BAU) ICT expenditure (Total) 887 Gardens Victoria intends that data tables that it may Non-Business-As-Usual (Non-BAU) ICT expenditure 289 produce in the future will be available at: (Total = Operational expenditure and Capital Expenditure) www.data.vic.gov.au in machine readable format. Non-BAU ICT expenditure Operational expenditure (OPEX) 217

Non-BAU ICT expenditure Capital expenditure (CAPEX) 72

Page 96 GIFTS, BENEFITS AND HOSPITALITY COMPLIANCE ATTESTATION

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Annual Report 2015–16 Page 97 LEGISLATION Building and maintenance provisions No amendments were made to the Royal Botanic of the Building Act 1993 Gardens Act 1991 in 2015–16. Pursuant to section 220 of the Building Act 1993, all works requiring building approval have plans LEGISLATIVE COMPLIANCE certified, works in progress are inspected and Financial Management Act 1994 Occupancy Permits are issued by independent Full details of the Royal Botanic Gardens Board Building Surveyors engaged on a local job-by-job Victoria’s compliance with the Financial Management basis. Plans for these works are lodged with the Act 1994 are outlined in the section ‘Financial relevant local council. Management’ and in the Disclosure Index on page 95. The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria requires Freedom of Information Act 1982 all building practitioners engaged on building works Principal Officer to be registered and to maintain registration Professor Timothy Entwisle, Director and Chief throughout the course of the work. Executive, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Conformity Authorised Officer All essential safety measures are in place, with Dennis Renfrey, Freedom of Information Officer regular inspections and maintenance. The Freedom of Information Act 1982 allows the public Building work a right of access to documents held by the Royal At Cranbourne Gardens, a water-based heating, Botanic Gardens Victoria. ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system was Categories of documents installed to service the Boon Wurrung Café, Tarnuk The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria maintains Room and Auditorium. A series of heat exchangers, a corporate records management filing system. much like those in a conventional domestic refrigerator, Files are separated into the categories of personal take advantage of the differential temperatures or case files, operational and policy files, files on between the Australian Garden lake system and the general operational and administrative responsibilities, air within the Visitor Centre, to provide a low energy and correspondence files. and efficient means of cooling and heating various areas of the Visitor Centre. Works were undertaken Access arrangements by a licensed plumber with all relevant compliance The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria has certificates being obtained. a Freedom of Information Officer to process and co-ordinate action on requests. At Melbourne Gardens, the complete re-construction of the William Tell Rest House and Requests partial reconstruction of the Lake View Rest House, For the 12 months ending 30 June 2016, one damaged by fire in May 2014, continued following request was received and has not been finalised. commencement of works during May 2015 after Freedom of Information (FOI) requests are made receipt of the relevant building permits and approvals, in writing describing all documents requested and and Heritage Victoria permits. The building work including payment of the $27.90 application fee. for the William Tell Rest House and the Lake View FOI fees and charges are not subject to GST. Rest House was completed and both re-opened to the public in late 2015. All work was completed by Requests should be sent to the Freedom of Information commercial builders registered with the Building Officer, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Private Bag Practitioners Board. The design and construction 2000, South Yarra, Victoria, 3141. work was overseen by a registered Architect, engineers and a Building Surveyor. The fire services in the Melbourne Gardens works area were upgraded. The work was undertaken by a licenced plumber and all relevant compliance certificates were received.

Page 98 Maintenance Compliance with the Protected Disclosure Act 2012 At Cranbourne Gardens refurbishment and minor The Protected Disclosure Act 2012 (PD Act) enables maintenance works were undertaken on the Visitor people to make disclosures about improper conduct Centre entry deck. These works included removal by public officers and public bodies. The Act aims to of the old decking materials and replacement with ensure openness and accountability by encouraging recycled ironbark timber sourced from power poles. people to make disclosures and protecting them Works also included removal and replacement of the when they do. stair treads and tactile indicators. All building work What is a ‘protected disclosure’? was undertaken by a commercial builder and overseen A protected disclosure is a complaint of corrupt or by a consulting engineer. improper conduct by a public officer or a public body. A new LED lighting system was installed in the The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria is a ‘public Auditorium and refurbishment and other minor body’ for the purposes of the Act. maintenance works were undertaken on the Visitor What is ‘improper or corrupt conduct’? Centre. Further improvement works on the main water Improper or corrupt conduct involves substantial: supply pump house at the Depot were also undertaken, with copper pipes replacing the existing galvanised • mismanagement of public resources; or pipes, which were beginning to fail. All works were • risk to public health or safety or the environment; or carried out by licensed electricians and plumbers and • corruption. all relevant compliance certificates were obtained. The conduct must be criminal in nature or a matter Not all buildings at Melbourne Gardens conformed for which an officer could be dismissed. with building standards during 2015–16. Many of the How do I make a ‘Protected Disclosure’? buildings are aging and require considerable repairs You can make a protected disclosure about the Royal and maintenance. Work is being undertaken each Botanic Gardens Board Victoria or its board members, year, within budget constraints, to gradually bring officers or employees by contacting the Independent them to conformity. Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission on the One of the historic buildings within Melbourne contact details provided below. Gardens’ Nursery and Works Yard has been brought Please note that the Royal Botanic Gardens Board to conformity during 2015–16 with completion of Victoria is not able to receive protected disclosures. essential ground and drainage works, re-stumping, repairs and maintenance. How can I access the Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria’s procedures for the protection of persons There have been no cases of registered building from detrimental action? practitioners becoming deregistered following work The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria has on buildings owned by the Royal Botanic Gardens established procedures for the protection of persons Board Victoria. from detrimental action in reprisal for making a Annual maintenance and improvement works, protected disclosure about the Royal Botanic Gardens including painting, repairs and replacement of some Board Victoria or its employees. You can access the HVAC systems, and repairs to fixtures and fittings Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria’s procedures were undertaken on various buildings and built on its website at: www.rbg.vic.gov.au/Protected_ assets. All essential safety measure inspections were Disclosure_Procedure. undertaken by a registered Building Surveyor and Contacts compliance issues addressed as required. Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption The computer-based ‘Maintenance Management Commission (IBAC) Victoria System’ is now being utilised by the whole Address: Level 1, North Tower, 459 Collins Street, organisation. The system continues to be an excellent Melbourne Victoria 3000 tool in providing support for the management of Mail: IBAC, GPO Box 24234, Melbourne Victoria 3001 buildings and infrastructure, and related plant Internet: www.ibac.vic.gov.au items, including the forecasting of programmed Phone: 1300 735 135 maintenance tasks. Email: see the website above for the secure email disclosure process, which also provides for anonymous disclosures.

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