Council rejects nursery for indigenous plants

City of Sydney has denied the development of Syndey’s only nursery for indigenous plants.

At Monday’s council meeting the City rejected Councillor Meredith Burgmann suggestion for the investigation of developing a nursery to sell plants native to the Sydney area in the Wattle Street depot site in Ultimo.

Councillor Burgmann complained the nearest nursery selling indigenous plants to the Sydney area is in Gymea.

“The Sydney LGA doesn’t have a native plant nursery . . . Small local nurseries sell mostly exotic species,” she said.

Clr Burgmann said the abandoned plot on Wattle Street would be the perfect location however a contamination issue may complicate any nursery development.

The proposal drew mostly criticism from the other councillors who labelled it as a waste of time and money.

Councillor Shayne Mallard said the development may hinder the process of pre-existing Sydney nurseries.

“You would have to consult industry. Nurseries may not be happy for us to subsidise a nursery while they struggle to make a living.”

These concerns were echoed by Councillor Phillip Black who said Sydney should spend their time supporting community groups who already engage advocating indigenous plants.

“We don’t need to be a leader on this . . . There are already many community run nurseries,” he said.

Clr Burgmann said community groups have been requesting an indigenous nursery and the proposal would further the goals of Sydney’s Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan.

“This has been asked for a long time by local landcare groups,” she said

“This would support our biodiversity goal . . . it will attract small birds and animals.”

Councillor Tornai spoke out against this suggestion and said: “we’ve just established and endorsed a whole ten year plan . . . I don’t believe we need to broaden our horizons anymore. We need to focus on our broad reaching plans.”

Greens councillor Chris Harris said he was shocked Council decided not to forward the proposal as it was just an investigation at this stage.

“We should at least be generous enough to get comment from staff.”

He said the act to deny it was mean-spirited and distant from the normal Council practice.