Tips on How to Create and Connect Social Spaces in Australia
Australia is sprinkled with some very distinct neighbourhoods that portrays its unique history and mix of rural and city living landscapes. Western Australia, which is known for its bright blue coastline and red desert rural areas, longs for outdoor spaces that provide ways for the public to connect and enjoy these vistas. The Northern Territory,...
Footbridge hits the mark
On budget and on time, that’s the target every project aims for. Add in a material that’s durable as well as sustainable and you have a winning combination that really hits the mark. A stunning 56 metre pedestrian bridge across Rifle Range Creek at Bagara has just been completed by Bundaberg Council in Queensland using...
Planting under Eucalypts
Many gardens have established Eucalypts, and as designers, landscapers and horticulturists, we have to be aware of the requirements of these existing trees if we want to have a successful planting under and around them. I will take three Eucalyptus species as an example of their varied requirements. Eucalyptus microcorys (Tallowood) is naturally fond in...
The right plant in the right soil
In a school near where I live, 25 trees had to be removed as they were found unstable. The reason was that the species chosen was not suited to the soil type and their root system could not develop adequately. Not long ago I was given a plan to quote from. Of the plant specification...
Healthy Soils
In Landscaping and horticulture in general we are involved primarily with growing media. The quality of soil we work with is important; this is recognised by the Australian Standards we must adhere to. What is less known and too often overlooked is the health of our soils. What constitutes a healthy soil? A soil is healthy...
Self Learning
Horticulture is a profession that requires constant learning. Our profession deals with the natural word which works in a complex web of interaction between organisms and their environment. Because of its multi-disciplinary aspect, our profession needs to stay abreast of the constant discovery in biology and plant re-classification. For those of us specifying and recommending...
Living in your own bubble
It’s a sad state of affairs when you can’t even visit the park for some fresh air. In response to the bad air quality which is affecting many cities in the developing world, orproject has proposed “Bubbles” – a park enclosed in a giant bubble. “Bubbles” contains all the beauty of the natural world inside...
Park it here
After three years of planning, and extensive community input, Market Street Park in Victoria opened in November. With all new developments, Baw Baw Shire Council tries to incorporate environmentally sustainable designs and the park is a great example of what can be achieved. “It’s evident to see that people are pretty happy with the result. Replas is, of course,...
The big, red Tomato Festival Sydney, 2014
A little more dignified than La Tomatina is the Tomato Festival Sydney, which will be held 31st January- 2nd of February at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney, giving you the opportunity to celebrate and learn about the most popular fruit in the world. The event will feature: A cooking masterclass with Pietro Demaio Talks by...
Rootstock 2014
While Woodstock had some great music, it’s got nothing on Sydney’s Rootstock Festival – a celebration of music, wine, food and art, based on the philosophies of artisan, sustainable, authentic, natural, organic and biodynamic. A range of workshops will be on offer, including: the benefits of growing food at home, how to make a successful...
Walking the talk at St Kilda
The City of Port Phillip, an inner city council in Melbourne, Victoria, would like to distinguish itself as a leader in sustainable procurement. So when an existing timber boardwalk structure along St Kilda foreshore had reached the end of its useful life expectancy the council looked for an alternative product. Alison Breach, Landscape Architect with...
Greenwalls the new billboards
With the green wall and green roof trend ever growing, it’s no surprise that the concept of green wall billboards has taken root. The Greenwall Company are locating their first ever green wall billboard in the Green Square precinct in Sydney, an area renowned for its community projects and environmentally friendly spaces. Mark Paul, founder...
