Industry-first accreditation process sets the bar high for new turf growing group.Lawn Solutions Australia (LSA) is setting a new standard for best practice in the Australian turf industry with the launch of an industry-first accreditation system.

The accreditation system ensures all growers in the LSA group adhere to the same stringent, nationally endorsed standards. The process will be subject to continuous review and improvement, and all LSA growers will be audited on an on-going basis to ensure compliance.

“We’re raising the bar to a new level of industry professionalism,” says Lawn Solutions Australia Business Manager, Simon Adermann.

“The accreditation process extends to all areas of our members’ businesses, including OHS, site environmental controls, product quality, delivery and installation, training and in-house business systems.

“Everyone from the guy who grows the turf to the driver delivering it will go through rigorous training to meet these standards.

“This is an industry first, and it will ensure that our growers meet the formal quality assurances many customers now expect from their suppliers.”

The launch of LSA at last month’s Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show represented the biggest industry shake-up in years.

The hand-picked group comprises 40 of Australia’s best turf suppliers - all existing Sir Walter growers – who will market a uniformly branded range of turf products and after-sales, value-add services.

The Lawn Solutions Australia ‘house of brands’ is made up of:

• Sir Walter soft-leaf buffalo
• Eureka Kikuyu
• Nullarbor Couch
• Platinum Zoysia
• RTF Fescue

Adermann, says the formation of LSA will make it far simpler for commercial customers to specify and tender out supply contracts, particularly national or state-wide contracts.

“When you deal with LSA it means you can specify the same branded turf product across Australia and get consistent results with the best variety to suit local conditions.

“In an industry notorious for turf brands and varieties that are ‘here today, gone tomorrow’, you can also be confident that LSA turf brands are here to stay.”

Adermann says LSA is also committed to researching and introducing new varieties under its brand hierarchy.

“We have exclusive arrangements with the world’s leading turf breeders and research facilities, including Texas A&M University and the University of Georgia in the United States.

“In fact, our members recently undertook a US study tour to investigate new grass varieties and growing technologies.

“We’re not interested in introducing new varieties for the sake of it. We’ll only bring new varieties to market in the future if they have clear and distinguishable environmental and performance advantages over existing varieties in the marketplace.”

To find your nearest LSA grower, visit www.lawnsolutionsaustralia.com.au or phone 1300 883 711.