Water wise achievements - Floriade

Floriade Water Conservation Measures

About Floriade

Floriade is Australia's premier spring festival and a world-class floral spectacular! Over one million blooms create a stunning backdrop to a month long festival filled with music, cultural celebrations, artistic displays, entertainment and recreational activities.

Floriade runs for one exciting month from mid September to mid October and attracts up to 395,000 visits each year. This vibrant festival presents an amazing and ever-changing visual display that makes a single visit never enough.

Floriade is located within the grounds of Commonwealth Park and covers an area of approximately 4 hectares. The garden beds span across 10,000m², all designed accordingly to a new theme each year. Over one million bulbs and annuals are planted within the parkland and permanent garden beds of Commonwealth Park.

By agreement with the National Capital Authority, owners of Commwealth Park, Floriade occupies the site for approximately 9-months a year. This includes construction and maintenance of the Floriade garden beds and restoration of Commonwealth Park post Floriade.

Saving Water at Floriade

Australian Capital Tourism have adopted a number of water saving measures to reduce the environmental impacts of hosting Canberra's flagship event. Some of these measures include:

  1. Floriades main water supply is provided from Lake Burley Griffin. In partnership with the National Capital Authority, Australian Capital Tourism is committed to ensuring responsible water usage and management for Floriade.
  2. The sprinkler system in Commonwealth Park has been changed from the quick coupler system to an automatic irrigation system which allows for better efficiency and accuracy.
  3. Accountability measures from the horticultural maintenance team to be more vigilant on water usage.
  4. The Floriade Horticultural Service Provider, Parks Conservation and Lands have calculated water use for both best case and worst case scenarios for Floriade. The best case scenario is 2.24 Mega litres (2.24 million litres) per annum and worst case scenario is 3.4 Mega Litres (3.4 million litres) per annum. For Floriade 2007 the Horticultural Service Provider were able to achieve best case scenario due to rainfall levels experienced during the restoration period (post Floriade where the park is restored to its natural state).
  5. The soil for Floriade has been designed to absorb and retain moisture, is a free draining nutrient rich soil and may be used on its own or to enrich existing soil and garden beds. This mix complies with Australian Standards and contains:
    • Wetting Agent – to aid in moisture absorption. It will help the mix absorb moisture quicker and more evenly through out the mix, saving you water.
    • Gypsum – to improve soil structure, increase water penetration and increase aeration which will enhance plant root development.
    • Trace Elements – providing plants their full nutritional requirements.
    • Controlled Release Fertiliser – contains controlled release of nutrients for up to 9 months healthy plant growth.
    • Australian Made – Martins Fertilizers is 100% family owned Australian Company.
  6. Floriade Showcase Gardens presented by Actew Corporation – exhibitors are requested to use low water use plants and drought tolerant plants where practical. Exhibitors are also asked to consider other elements of water conservation for example, use of mulches and water reservoirs for water features.
  7. Floriade pots and hanging baskets contain the same Floriade Garden Soil, including its water saving capabilities.
  8. The Floriade Horticultural Service Provider cap off sprinkler in areas of Commonwealth Park where water is not required, i.e. under marquee sites and adjacent to event catering areas.
  9. The Floriade Horticultural Service Provider manipulate and adjust sprinkler heads to ensure water is directed onto garden beds as efficiently as possible.
  10. Post Floriade, Commonwealth Park must be restored and rectified by the Floriade Horticultural Service Provider in accordance with guidelines determined by agreement with the National Capital Authority. This includes returfing areas of Commonwealth Park that have been affected by Floriade garden beds and infrastructure. Turf varieties that require less water to establish and maintain are used wherever possible, for example Couch. This particular variety could survive if stage 4 water restrictions come into effect.


Information provided by Australian Capital Tourism relating to water use for Floriade true and accurate as at 22 March 2008.