Alstonville Update

Development continues at our Alstonville site to increase capacity and improve plant quality further.

We have been very busy on the development front at Alstonville. Work is now largely completed on Dam 3 and all the associated irrigation works. This includes the aerator for the dam and associated connections that enable us to transfer water between any of our water storages. It also allows us to put plants down on two new beds. These new beds comprise an area of around 9,200 square metres and will allow us to accommodate up to 90,000 plants, mainly in 140mm, 200mm and 300mm containers.

The development of Dam 3 incorporates wetland and bio-filters that both control the velocity of any overflow and act to reduce any nutrient over-load.

Development of the new areas has also coincided with the introduction of our new Chlorine Dioxide system that will enable us to further increase the water quality for irrigation purposes. We have excellent quality water in our retention ponds and in our groundwater but the new system will disinfect our tanks, pipes and other systems to ensure irrigation water is first class quality at all times.

The new development also includes other earthworks that will see the area north of our creek fully developed. The next stage of development will require us to cross the creek and consideration is being given to the best means of achieving this, balancing our operational needs with protection of the environment.