Botanic wonder

By Rebecca Fraser
WHEN visitors enter the Australian Garden at Cranbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens later this month they are set for a well-rounded experience.
They will enjoy the new gardens and receive the best treatment around, with Berwick local Lynn Klavins taking a front-line position as head coordinator of customer service.
On Sunday, 28 May, Premier Steve Bracks will officially open the first 11 hectares of the much-anticipated garden with features including a timber-clad visitor centre, rock pool waterway, escarpment wall, red sand garden and more than 100,000 plants that have been sourced throughout Australia.
Ms Klavins said the garden had been transformed from an old sand mine site into a place of beauty, education and pleasure and, even before opening, had won a number of awards for its design.
She said she could not wait for the opening day and was keen to share her passion and knowledge of the garden with the public as well as her flair for customer service.
Ms Klavins said she hoped that the public enjoyed three great experiences when they visited the garden.
“First, we want them to enjoy the Australian garden, secondly the remnant bushland, and, thirdly, we want them to be wowed by the staff,” she said.
Five new staff started at the gardens this week and their key responsibility will be customer service.
Three will work in the visitor centre providing information and directions as well as conducting tours.
Two other people have been hired as customer service rangers who will also conduct tours.
She said it was amazing to think that 150 years after the Royal Botanic Gardens in South Yarra opened Cranbourne was opening its own new garden.
The garden was designed by landscape architects Taylor Cullity Lethlean, with renowned plant designer Paul Thompson. “It is truly a gateway into Australia’s fantastic plants, giving visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the continent’s flora, landscape, art and architecture,” Ms Klavins said.
“Around 60,000 visitors currently visit the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne each year. This figure is set to grow once the word gets out.”
There will be guided tours, children’s activities and entertainment for all the family from 10.30am, for an 11am start, to 4pm. The entry price for adults will be $9 and children will be free. Normal opening hours will be 9am to 5pm.