QLD: No mow grass on the way ... slowly

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2000
QLD: No mow grass on the way ... slowly

BRISBANE, April 23 AAP - Scientists at Queensland's Department of Primary Industries
love watching grass grow.

The slower the better.

Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk said today the department's boffins were
developing grass that required less mowing, watering and fertilising.

Early results suggested some varieties might need mowing only every three months, resulting
in huge maintenance savings for local authorities and sports venues.

"The savings could be enormous in maintaining parks, median strips and footpaths alone,"

Mr Palaszczuk said.

The DPI's research station at Redlands, near Brisbane, is Australia's only dedicated
tropical and sub-tropical turf research facility.

"The Australian turf industry is a multi-billion business and the government is ensuring
Queensland is strongly positioned to tap into the lucrative domestic market as well as
targeting opportunities in south-east Asia," Mr Palaszczuk said.

The Redlands facility was also establishing high salt-tolerant grasses for land rehabilitation,
he said.

AAP geb/it

KEYWORD: GRASS

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