Urban Greening Production Nursery Final Business Case

The Challenge

The Botanic Gardens of Sydney’s (BGS) production nursery at Mount Annan plays a pivotal role in NSW’s propagation and hardening of at-risk plant species. Currently, however, it faces several critical challenges due to ageing assets - including inefficiencies in propagation and hardening production, high risk of plant material loss due to power outages from climatic events, and Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) concerns for nursery personnel. Additionally, there is a struggle to find adequate spaces and staff for research and education programs.

The Action

To address these issues and complete the missing link in BGS propagation assets at Mount Annan, a new production nursery featuring additional floorspace, cutting-edge equipment, and increased nursery staff has been proposed. Polis Partners was engaged to undertake the Final Business Case (FBC) for this project, including the economic and financial assessment. In addition to crafting a clear and compelling case for change, the process involved coordinating inputs and knowledge from multiple teams at the nursery, including those in science, education, conservation, asset management, horticulture, and living collections. Polis Partners developed the methodology for, and calculated, several innovative benefits in the cost-benefit analysis related to the new production nursery.

The Results

Polis successfully delivered a fit-for-purpose final business case that outlines the critical need for investment in the new production nursery. The FBC is ready for government approvals and is currently pending final endorsements. The proposed new production nursery is set to advance NSW's conservation goals and address climate change and urban greening objectives.