25    Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

Authority Outline

The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens is a Statutory Authority, governed by the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens Act 2002. The RTBG Board, comprising seven members, is appointed by the Minister and is responsible for managing, conserving and enhancing the RTBG in accordance with the RTBG Act.

The responsible Minister is the Minister for Heritage, Hon Elise Archer MP, and the supporting Agency is the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.

The vision of the RTBG is to create and maintain an exceptional garden that enriches Tasmania’s social and cultural life, showcases and contributes to the conservation of the flora of Tasmania, and educates the community about the importance of plants.

The RTBG is Australia’s second oldest botanical gardens. It was established in 1818, and 2018 was therefore its bicentennial year. The gardens are home to the largest collection of mature conifers in the Southern Hemisphere and it also has the only subantarctic plant house in the world.

The mission of the RTBG is to sustainably manage the RTBG, conserve and develop the RTBG’s living collections and heritage, and create and deliver an exemplary and enlightening visitor experience and thriving organisational culture.

This chapter provides the RTBG’s budgeted financial information for 2020‑21 and over the Forward Estimates (2021‑22 to 2023‑24). Further information on the RTBG is provided at www.rtbg.tas.gov.au.


 

Key Deliverables

Table 25.1 provides a summary of the Budget and Forward Estimates allocations for key deliverables within the Authority.

Table 25.1:       Key Deliverables Statement

 

2020-21

 

Budget

2021-22

Forward

Estimate

2022-23

Forward

Estimate

2023-24

Forward

Estimate

 

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

COVID-19 Response and Recovery Measures

 

 

 

 

Public Building Maintenance Program

234

….

….

….

Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens Upgrades1

4 000

….

….

….

 

 

 

 

 

Note:

1.    This initiative is funded through the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.

COVID-19 Response and Recovery Measures

Public Building Maintenance Program

Funding of $302 000 has been provided for the RTBG over two years, concluding in 2020‑21, as part of the Government’s Public Building Maintenance Program. Projects to be delivered include various construction and maintenance works on site, as well as asset record digitisation and project photography.

Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens Upgrades

An additional $4 million has been provided in 2020‑21 for the RTBG to fund its biggest capital works program in 30 years. As one of Tasmania’s most popular attractions, visitation to the Gardens has grown by more than 40 per cent over the past six years, especially by locals, placing pressure on ageing infrastructure and facilities.

Other Key Deliverables

Other key deliverables for the RTBG include:

·       construction of a $3.6 million new Visitor Centre, at the main gate and associated works, including the redevelopment of the existing café/restaurant and function venue, and increased and improved parking and drop-off area around the main gate entry;

·       redevelopment of the Tasmanian Collection precinct following storm damage in 2018, including improved pathways and visitor interpretation signage;

·       developing a project plan and timeline for rebuilding the RTBG website; and

·       the ongoing operation of the Tasmanian Seed Conservation Centre and its associated research projects in partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London; the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment; the University of Tasmania; the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery Herbarium; and the Australian Seed Bank Partnership.

Detailed Budget Statements

Table 25.2:       Statement of Comprehensive Income

 

2019‑20 

2020‑21 

2021‑22 

2022‑23 

2023‑24 

 

 

 

Forward 

Forward 

Forward 

 

Budget 

Budget 

Estimate 

Estimate 

Estimate 

 

$'000 

$'000 

$'000 

$'000 

$'000 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue and other income

 

 

 

 

 

Grants1

5 494 

7 332 

3 177 

3 273 

3 379 

Sales of goods and services2

875 

356 

409 

529 

815 

Interest3

80 

35 

30 

20 

20 

Other revenue4

237 

76 

72 

78 

94 

Total revenue

6 686 

7 799 

3 688 

3 900 

4 308 

Net gain/(loss) on non‑financial assets

.... 

(13)

(13)

(13)

(13)

Total income

6 686 

7 786 

3 675 

3 887 

4 295 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Employee benefits5

3 165 

2 871 

2 949 

3 009 

3 070 

Depreciation and amortisation

374 

461 

474 

552 

570 

Supplies and consumables

1 423 

1 460 

1 138 

1 163 

1 209 

Total expenses

4 962 

4 792 

4 561 

4 725 

4 849 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net result

1 724 

2 994 

(886)

(837)

(554)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive result

1 724 

2 994 

(886)

(837)

(554)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes:

1.    The variation in Grants across the 2020‑21 Budget and Forward Estimates primarily reflects funding for the New Visitor Centre project, and the Public Building Maintenance Program.

2.    The variation in Sales of goods and services reflects the reduction in visitor numbers due to the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic.

3.    The decrease in Interest reflects falling interest rate returns on cash deposits.

4.    The variation in Other revenue reflects the reduction in visitor numbers due to the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic.

5.    The decrease in Employee benefits is the result of salary efficiency gains.

 

 


 

Table 25.3:       Statement of Financial Position as at 30 June

 

2020 

2021 

2022 

2023 

2024 

 

 

 

Forward 

Forward 

Forward 

 

Budget 

Budget 

Estimate 

Estimate 

Estimate 

 

$'000 

$'000 

$'000 

$'000 

$'000 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Financial assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and deposits

1 197 

2 538 

(857)

(1 355)

(1 650)

Receivables

64 

10 

10 

10 

10 

Other financial assets

48 

54 

54 

54 

54 

 

1 309 

2 602 

(793)

(1 291)

(1 586)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non‑financial assets

 

 

 

 

 

Inventories

77 

74 

74 

74 

74 

Property, plant and equipment1

11 561 

15 601 

18 359 

18 287 

18 295 

Infrastructure1

3 898 

4 515 

4 353 

4 191 

4 029 

Other assets

20 

28 

28 

28 

28 

 

15 556 

20 218 

22 814 

22 580 

22 426 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

16 865 

22 820 

22 021 

21 289 

20 840 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Payables

92 

89 

89 

89 

89 

Employee benefits2

605 

739 

826 

931 

1 036 

Other liabilities

10 

20 

20 

20 

20 

Total liabilities

707 

848 

935 

1 040 

1 145 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets (liabilities)

16 158 

21 972 

21 086

20 249 

19 695 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Reserves

14 378 

16 267 

16 267 

16 267 

16 267 

Accumulated funds

1 780 

5 705 

4 819 

3 982 

3 428 

Total equity

16 158 

21 972 

21 086 

20 249 

19 695 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes:

1.    The increase in Property, plant and equipment and Infrastructure reflects the construction of the New Visitor Centre.

2.    The increase in Employee benefits primarily relates to the movement in discount rates and probability factors in the calculation of leave liabilities.

 


 

Table 25.4:       Statement of Cash Flows

 

2019‑20 

2020‑21 

2021‑22 

2022‑23 

2023‑24 

 

 

 

Forward 

Forward 

Forward 

 

Budget 

Budget 

Estimate 

Estimate 

Estimate 

 

$'000 

$'000 

$'000 

$'000 

$'000 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Cash inflows

 

 

 

 

 

Grants1

5 494 

7 332 

3 177 

3 273 

3 379 

Sales of goods and services2

875 

356 

409 

529 

815 

GST receipts

138 

166 

347 

105 

107 

Interest received3

80 

35 

30 

20 

20 

Other cash receipts4

237 

76 

72 

78 

94 

Total cash inflows

6 824 

7 965 

4 035 

4 005 

4 415 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash outflows

 

 

 

 

 

Employee benefits

(2 822)

(2 544)

(2 613)

(2 666)

(2 721)

Superannuation

(343)

(327)

(336)

(343)

(349)

GST payments

(138)

(166)

(347)

(105)

(107)

Supplies and consumables5

(1 423)

(1 614)

(1 293)

(1 356)

(1 499)

Total cash outflows

(4 726)

(4 651)

(4 589)

(4 470)

(4 676)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash from (used by) operating activities

2 098 

3 314 

(554)

(465)

(261)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Payments for acquisition of non‑financial assets

(1 121)

(4 493)

(2 841)

(33)

(34)

Proceeds from the disposal of non‑financial assets

13 

.... 

.... 

.... 

.... 

Net cash from (used by) investing activities

(1 108)

(4 493)

(2 841)

(33)

(34)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents held

990 

(1 179)

(3 395)

(498)

(295)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and deposits at the beginning of the reporting period

207 

3 717 

2 538 

(857)

(1 355)

Cash and deposits at the end of the reporting period

1 197 

2 538 

(857)

(1 355)

(1 650)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes:

3.    The variation in Grants across the 2020‑21 Budget and Forward Estimates primarily reflects funding for the New Visitor Centre project and the Public Building Maintenance Program.

4.    The decrease in Sales of goods and services reflects the reduction in visitor numbers due to the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic.

5.    The decrease in Interest received reflects falling interest rate returns on cash deposits.

6.    The decrease in Other cash receipts reflects the reduction in visitor numbers due to the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic.

7.    The variation in Supplies and consumables primarily reflects expenditure under the Public Building Maintenance Program.