Sustainable Parks and Reserves

What is Council doing in our reserves and sportsgrounds that supports the principles of ecological sustainability?

Council’s Sustainability Charter and Parks Plans of Management commit us to integrating ecological considerations into Open Space decision making processes, design, planning, management and maintenance practices.

We are following the directions of the charter and plans in the following practical ways:

Reuse / Recycle

Weeds, prunings and other “green waste” are composted in heaps located in several of our parks. Compost produced is then used in garden beds.
A soil conditioner made from 100% recycled organic materials is used in our garden beds. The benefits of using this product include increased water holding capacity of the soil, which reduces watering requirements.
When mowing sportsgrounds, grass clippings are left on the oval surfaces where they break down providing nutrition for the turf.
Branches pruned during street tree maintenance are chipped, resulting in mulch which is then used on garden beds in parks and landscaped traffic islands. The volume of mulch produced is large enough that it is not necessary to purchase mulch from other sources.
Use of recycling bins is being trialled at the Bicentennial Netball Courts during the busy Saturday competition days, and in Willoughby Park.
Existing materials are reused or recycled material is used when possible for landscape improvement work e.g:
- Stone in the existing pathways in Cleland Park will be used as inlays in the new paths that are part of improvement works planned for the park.
- Recycled and plantation grown timber and recycled rubber was used for all the rubber ground surfaces in the upgraded Bales Park Playground.
- Crushed sandstone from other works is being used for informal pathways and as a weed controlling “cap” in Bicentennial Reserve.
- Bricks were retained after demolition of two houses on the site of the new Whitton Park, then used for the brickwork in terraces, steps and paths in the park.

Water

A new irrigation system has been installed in the Garden of Remembrance. Compared to other forms of irrigation, the “Capillary Irrigation Sub-Surface System” saves water by reducing evaporation, minimising drainage losses and improving overall irrigation performance.
Water crystals, wetting agents and mulch are all used when planting to minimise watering requirements.
One of the main criteria considered when choosing plant species is drought tolerance. A relatively recently introduced turf variety (“Empire Zoysia” which is a form of Zoysia japonica) that is drought hardy and slow growing is used when replacing or establishing new lawn areas, thereby reducing water requirements and energy used for mowing.
Plants are also chosen for their longevity, and when possible, planting is done in autumn to reduce the input of resources such as water required for the establishment phase.
Water bills are monitored for changes in water use so that eg possible leaks can be investigated.
The “Cloudmaster” watering and lighting control system has been installed. The computer/remote controlled system helps conserve water and electricity by enabling irrigation and floodlighting at our sportsgrounds to be programmed more accurately.
An underground water storage tank is being installed at Chatswood Rotary War Memorial Athletic Field. Lane Cove Tunnel intersects the passage of groundwater which is currently being collected, treated to a very high water quality standard and then discharged into Lane Cove River. The treated water will be captured and transferred to the tank to be used for irrigating the field. As part of a future project, the stored water will be connected to the amenities blocks as well.
Two new dams have been built at Northbridge Golf Course to supply water for the course. The harvested stormwater will also be used to irrigate Northbridge Oval.
Sydney Water Restrictions conditions and exemptions as follows are abided by for all watering of gardens and sportsgrounds.

Weed Control

Where weeds have grown in pockets of soil that has accumulated amongst rocky surfaces, control is achieved by scraping the soil away from the rock rather than by using herbicides.
A plan to use treatments other than herbicides has been formulated for other patchy areas of weeds eg weedy gaps between roadways and fences in laneways can be planted, turfed, covered with bitumen or mulched.
Mulch and weedmat is used to prevent weed growth. The weedmat used is made from recycled textiles.
Competition from weeds is reduced by choosing thick growing strappy leafed plants, and by using a planting distance that results in complete ground cover.

Energy

Solar lighting is being considered when lighting upgrades are planned eg solar lighting will be installed as part of the Naremburn Park Masterplan works.

Education

Council’s Parks Maintenance Team visited the Royal Botanic Gardens to learn about the Palace Rose Garden. The excursion helped us in our efforts to incorporate the principles of ecologically sustainable development into Open Space maintenance practices, as the design and management of the Botanic Gardens new rose garden is based on these principles.

We now use some of the horticultural practices in Council’s rose gardens, such as the use of organic fertilisers and mulches, using pruning techniques which reduce the likelihood of disease and the use of predatory wasps and bicarbonate of soda/organic oils (biodegradable products) for pest and disease control (there is evidence of the presence of the wasp in the Garden of Remembrance).

Social

One of the principles of the Sustainability Charter is that sustainability is more likely to be achieved if local communities work together, and if there are connections within the community. Council’s Parkcare, Bushcare, Streetcare and free Guided Bushwalks programmes encourage these connections. Designs for new parks and landscape upgrades are based on responses received following community consultation, and parks provide important social and recreational opportunities. Park upgrades include creation of “conversation areas” and meeting areas and installation of BBQs, seating and pathways with the aim of bringing neighbourhoods together. These opportunities are especially important as areas of medium to high density housing are increasing.