Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria • Annual Report 2018–19 • Annual Report Victoria Gardens Board Botanic Royal Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Annual Report 2018–19 Cover image: Learning Facilitator, Lenka Vanderboom interacts with children on Oak Lawn, Melbourne Gardens. Inner cover: The rare Caladenia formosa Elegant Spider-orchid. Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria Birdwood Avenue Melbourne Victoria 3004 Private Bag 2000 South Yarra Victoria 3141 Australia T +61 3 9252 2300 F +61 3 9252 2442 E [email protected] rbg.vic.gov.au ISSN 1320-842X © Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria 2018. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Stock: Revive Laser Digital is an FSC® recycled certifi ed paper, which ensures that all pulp is derived from well managed forests and controlled sources. Revive Laser Digital is 100% recycled and processed chlorine free. Revive Laser Digital SPX 80-110gsm is manufactured in Australia by an ISO 14001 certifi ed mill. It is also certifi ed carbon neutral under the National Carbon Off set Standard (NCOS), an Australian Government initiative. The rare Caladenia formosa Elegant Spider-orchid. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chairman’s Foreword 2 3. Creating Special Places 52 Director and Chief Executive’s Foreword 4 Key Achievements 53 Highlights 6 High Quality Landscapes 55 Our Vision 8 International Networks 56 Our Mission 8 Completing Cranbourne 58 Our Values 10 Overview 59 Our Charter 10 4. Towards a Sustainable Future 60 Definitions 10 Year in Review 60 Key Achievements 61 Our Organisation 11 Impact Snapshot 62 Melbourne Gardens 12 Sustainable Resource Management 62 Cranbourne Gardens 14 Implementation of Information and 64 Attendance Figures 16 Communication Technology Strategy Scientific Research 17 Revenue Raising Agreements 65 Engagement and Impact 17 Developing a Sustainable Organisation 65 Governance – Purpose, Functions, Powers and Duties 18 Overview 65 Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Board 18 Executive Team 21 Our Supporters 68 Organisational Structure and Key Functional Areas 22 Volunteers and Associates 74 Our People 23 Financial Statements 78 Public Sector Values and Employment Principles 24 Declaration in the Financial Statements 79 Employee Learning and Development 25 Comprehensive Operating Statement 80 Equal Opportunity 26 Balance Sheet 81 Occupational Health and Safety 26 Cash Flow Statement 82 Statement of Changes in Equity 83 Our Performance 27 About this Report 84 Financial Overview 28 Funding Delivery of our Services 85 Financial Performance and Position 30 The Cost of Delivering Services 88 Key Assets Available to Support Service Delivery 92 Our Achievements 31 Other Assets and Liabilities 94 1. Discovery and Sharing Knowledge How we Finance Our Operations 96 Year in Review 32 Risks, Contingencies and Valuation Judgements 99 Key Achievements 33 Other Disclosures 108 Scientific Research 34 Independent Auditor’s Report 117 Providing Plant Information 35 Solving Plant-Related and Ecological Problems 38 Appendices Curating the State Botanical Collection 39 Appendix One: Disclosure Index 119 Overview 40 Appendix Two: Other Disclosures 122 2. Inspiring Plant Learning ICT Expenditure 123 Year in Review 41 Consultancies 123 Key Achievements 42 Attestation 124 Visitor Engagement 42 Legislation 125 Impactful Engagement: Promoting the Work 46 Legislative Compliance 125 of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Overview 51 ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS BOARD VICTORIA — ANNUAL REPORT 2018–19 1 Chairman’s Foreword the inaugural Climate Change Summit This year saw the Department of for global botanic gardens. In December Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2018, thirteen international botanic support our vision for a transformation of organisations came together for a four- Melbourne Gardens through development day summit exploring ways in which of a new Nature and Science Precinct botanic gardens can become climate with a $5 million grant to complete a ready and resilient. Participants were full feasibility study for this project. The introduced to the Royal Botanic Gardens Nature and Science Precinct includes Victoria’s Landscape Succession Strategy redevelopment of the National Herbarium as a guiding approach, culminating in of Victoria into a state-of-the-art home for In accordance with the Financial the establishment of the Climate Change the irreplaceable treasures and specimens Management Act 1994, I am pleased to Alliance of Global Botanic Gardens. of the State Botanical Collection. The Herbarium collections will be protected present the Royal Botanic Gardens Board Our scientific research continues to play securely for future generations in an Victoria Annual Report for 2018-19. a critical role in the identification and underground vault, while creating Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s iconic conservation of Australia’s native flora. opportunities to bring the stories behind sites, critical scientific research, and The National Herbarium of Victoria is those treasures to the general public for innovative learning and participation leading a major national collaborative the very first time. programs speak to our unique purpose to research project, Genomes of Australian safeguard plants and plant knowledge for Plants, which aims to improve The Precinct will include a new Learning the wellbeing of people and the planet. understanding of Australia’s plant life and Participation Centre providing This year has been one of remarkable through Next Generation Sequencing fresh opportunities to engage local achievements for Royal Botanic Gardens of large proportions of the Australian communities with urban ecology, Victoria across our three key pillars of plant genome in collaboration with ethnobotany, ethno-astronomy and much nature, culture and science. Our work Bioplatforms Australia. This project was more. I thank Minister Lily D’Ambrosio was bolstered by a funding increase made possible through generous support for her ongoing support of Royal Botanic from the State Government through from The Ian Potter Foundation and Gardens Victoria. the Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation. the Department of Environment, Land, I wish to express my sincere thanks to I thank them for their foresight in Water and Planning in June 2018. This my fellow Board Members who have supporting this valuable initiative. funding has allowed Royal Botanic volunteered their time and worked Gardens Victoria to achieve important Much of the work of Royal Botanic tirelessly throughout the year to assist improvements to public accessibility, Gardens Victoria cannot be achieved management in delivering so many safety and engagement, while also without the hard work and support of our wonderful achievements. enabling the organisation to recruit two Friends groups – Melbourne Friends This year more than ever before, I’m proud 18 new staff roles that ensure the and Cranbourne Friends of Royal Botanic to say, there is something new happening organisation maintains its world-leading Gardens Victoria – and our dedicated at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and I healthy, biodiverse and resilient plant volunteers who enthusiastically deliver am excited for what lies ahead. collections and essential plant research. many important functions, from our This year has seen two of our most guided daily walks to mounting historical popular landscapes, Fern Gully at specimens. I also gratefully acknowledge Melbourne Gardens and the Red the significant support of the Royal Sand Garden at Cranbourne Gardens, Botanic Gardens Foundation Board, chaired by Gillian Hund, and our loyal and refreshed and enhanced. These areas Ken Harrison AM generous donors and corporate partners, are now not only beautiful locations for Chairman without whom we would not be where we visitors but also examples of landscape Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria are today. design and horticultural excellence. 4 September 2019 Our leadership role in landscape and horticultural management was further demonstrated this year in our hosting of 2 A family enjoy a peaceful moment at Cranbourne Gardens ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS BOARD VICTORIA — ANNUAL REPORT 2018–19 3 Director and Chief Executive Foreword The development of each of Royal Botanic all our divisions. I thank Artistic Director Gardens Victoria’s sites is guided by Jonathon Holloway and the Festival for specific Landscape Master Plans. This bringing this wonderful opportunity to year saw completion of the Melbourne Melbourne Gardens and the extraordinary Gardens Master Plan 2019–2039 including staff and teams who worked tirelessly to an extensive public consultation and deliver the event. stakeholder feedback phase. This master Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria has plan outlines both major and smaller maintained its position as one of the scale projects that will ensure Melbourne world’s leading botanical and scientific Gardens retains its beautiful landscape organisations. New discoveries from our Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s design, while meeting the needs of future research scientists and the continued unique role at the nexus of nature, visitors. I look forward to sharing it with expertise of our horticulturalists and culture and science shapes our ongoing you in late 2019. arborists have supported the conservation commitment to improving plant This year has seen remarkable events needs of Australia, generating valuable knowledge and flora conservation in occur at our Gardens, attracting new insights into plant biology, ecology and Australia and offering important nature audiences