ALSTONVILLE UPDATE

Development

The completion of 4 new growing pads has just recently been finished complying with Accreditation & Ecohort standards.

Each new growing pad is 20 metres wide by 60 metres in length. These new beds will be used to expand our growing range of 200mm & 300mm stock.

During the next 12 months with development we plan to complete 2 growing beds for 400mm & 500mm stock, Palms being grown in 45lt RCB (root control bags)along with landscaping mother stock garden beds in order to produce seeds, cutting and division for our propagation needs in the future.

There are also plans to add another amenities block at the rear of the nursery which will include a lunchroom, toilet and shower facilities. At the rear of the nursery is Youngman’s Creek and we are also looking at plans on what type of structure will be needed to cross the creek so in 2011 the nursery can expand its operations of growing more semi mature plants in the future.

Water Testing

 Alpine Alstonville has developed a water data capture and reporting program as part of its commitment to Eco-Hort and best nursery practice. The original objective was to develop a means to store data provided from our photometer, which tests various aspects of Alpine’s water, and present this data in a meaningful way via an easy to operate user interface.

The software is currently being extended to include temperature, algal levels, evaporation, dissolved oxygen, wind speed and direction and climatic data.

The software has been developed internally by Stuart Luckman and it is an extremely impressive data collection tool. It is used to track any abnormalities in water attributes and also provides data for a monthly report to management.

Indoor Cricket

Peter Knox was recently approached by three of the staff at Alpine Alstonville, Andrew, Mark and Sonny, regarding sponsorship of their Indoor Cricket team. Peter was happy to oblige and became the major contributor in the purchase of new black jerseys with the Alpine Nurseries logo displayed proudly on the back.

The team is known as the ‘Alpine No Balls’ and has won 5 of the 7 games played so far. With the season starting in October and ending late January, these results see them ranked second in the competition to date. The games played are generally fast and competitive with a greater sense of urgency than outdoor cricket, yet with a strong sense of team spirit and fun.

With the first round now finished the boys, one of 8 teams in the competition, stand a good chance of doing well in the second.

Bruce and Surfing Sponsorship

In 2009 Alpine Alstonville sponsored the Ballina Malibu Club providing the club’s competition rash shirts. The club currently has 35 members with a majority in their late 30’s to mid 50’s and most have surfed their whole life. Nursery Manager, Bruce Wilson joined the club in 2007 and is one of the “regulars”.

Club competition rounds are held the first Sunday of each month at Flat Rock just north of Ballina. Throughout the year the club participates in longboard competitions from Noosa Head Queensland to Port Macquarie on the mid north coast of NSW.

In 2008 Bruce placed first in division 3 then for 2009 took out first place again in division 3 along with winning the club’s trophy for most improved surfer of the club. Well done Bruce.