Month: June 2022

Construction Wetlands and Creeks

Lollypop Creek

Projects

Lollypop Creek

Location

Werribee

Service Used

Landscape Construction & Maintenance

Architect

Spiire

Client

Werribee Project Pty Ltd

Lollipop Creek Section 14 was completed by Australian Ecosystems (AE) for Werribee Project Pty Ltd at Kings Leigh Estate in Werribee. This landscape construction project is a beautiful creekline and nature corridor that provides ecological services including water treatment and habitat creation as well as mitigating urban heat island effect. It has become a community asset with local residents able to walk along the creek and enjoy the influx of nature into the new estate.

Following the design from Spiire, AE conducted significant formal landscaping works including the supply and install of concrete paving, seating, picnic tables, bollards as well as a fence for vehicle exclusion. Australian Ecosystems supplied and installed more than 250 trees which were inspected by a qualified arborist to guarantee the quality of the tree stock. Australian Ecosystems conducted seed collection for the project and supplied and installed plants for the ornamental beds, the creekzone and the bioretention pools.

The site is currently being maintained by Australian Ecosystems, with under 5% weed cover and over 95% survival rates of all plantings. The landscape is teaming with life, providing habitat for a variety of bird species, frogs, insects and more.

Scope of Works:

Supply and install of exposed aggregate concrete paving
Supply and install of public furniture including seating, picnic tables and platform benches
Supply and install of vehicle exclusion fencing
Supply and install of +250 trees with follow-up arboriculture assessment
Edging, Grassing and Bollard installation
Supply and Install of +90,000 (HIKO format) tubestock plants for creekzone planting
Supply and install of +800 (600CC format) aquatic plants
Supply and install of +5000 plants (150mm pots) for ornamental garden beds
2 year maintenance period

Tags Construction, Maintenance

Upper Point Cook

Projects

Upper Point Cook

Location

Point Cook

Service Used

Landscape Construction & Maintenance

Architect

Spiire

Client

Satterley Property Group

The Upper Point Cook Estate Project was completed by Australian Ecosystems (AE) for Satterley Property Group at Point Cook. AE’s work on the estate comprised of two seperate projects. The first was a large parkland reserve and constructed stormwater treatment wetland, which was designed to intercept, retain and treat large volumes of stormwater from the estate and surrounding areas, and to filter out pollutants and improve water quality. The wetland delivers additional benefits including urban cooling, habitat for local wildlife, and public amenity.

This project also involved extensive formal landscaping works such as paving, edging, rockwork as well as the supply and installation of outdoor furniture and a playground. After the success of the first project we were contracted to construct an adjacent wetland with a similar scope of works. In total, Australian Ecosystems supplied and installed 76,000 aquatic and ephemeral plants, over 9,600 plants and trees for the surround landscape and garden bed, 3330m2 of instant kikuyu turf and an irrigation system for the gardens beds.

To ensure compliance with Melbourne Water’s Wetland Design Manual, all shallow, deep and submerged marsh species were grown and supplied in 600cc plant formats, and all ephemeral plants were supplied in 93cc hiko cells or tubestock. The results have been outstanding with the site being awarded PC by Melbourne Water without defect. We received a 2 year contract for maintenance services. The site has under 5% weed cover and over 95% survival rates of all plantings. The site is now a thriving ecosystem and a beautiful public amenity for the Point Cook Community.

Scope of Works:

Site preparation and weed control
Supply and Installation of over 76,000 aquatic and ephemeral plants for the constructed wetlands
Supply and install of over 9,500 assorted plants and trees for the surrounding landscape and garden beds
Supply and install of over 3330m2 of Instant Kikuyu Turf
Paving, edging, rock work
Supply and install free standing concrete walls and basalt rock boulders
Supply and install of outdoor furniture and playground
Design, supply and install of irrigation system for all garden beds
2 year maintenance period

Tags Construction, Maintenance

Ecological Restoration Maintenance

Highlands Estate

Projects

Highlands Estate

Location

Craigieburn

Service Used

Landscape Maintenance

Client

Stockland

Superintendant

Thompson Berrill Landscape Design

Between 2009 and 2019 Australian Ecosystems undertook ecological management at the Golden Sun Moth Conservation Site in Highlands Estate, Craigieburn. The 44 hectare site supports endangered flora including Matted Flax Lily (Dianella Amoena) and River Swamp Wallaby-Grass (Amphibromus Fluitans) as well as Red River Gums thought to be over 300 years old!

Scope of Works:

Biomass Reduction
Landscape Maintenance
Weed Control
General Maintenance
Flora Mapping
Reporting

Tags Maintenance

Construction

Armstrong Creek

Projects

Armstrong Creek

Location

Armstrong Creek

Service Used

Landscaping, Landscape Maintenance

Landscape Victoria Awards

2017 – LANDSCAPE OF THE YEAR

Use of Plants in Landscape – WINNER
Natural Build
Environment – WINNER
Landscape Maintenance – WINNER

The Warralily Estate wetlands and creekline restoration project at Connewarre stretches across several kilometres of Armstrong Creek between Barwon Heads and Geelong. The project involved seed collection, propagation and planting of more than 1 million locally indigenous plants, as well as installing hectares of mulch, jutemat and rockwork, habitat stags, and over a kilometre of concrete pathway and street furniture.

The Landscaping Victoria judges panel described the Connewarre project as “a major environmental project that is immaculately detailed, making it a community success – a beautiful place for walking, playing and enjoying the outdoors for humans, and through natural rock placement and the use of tree stags as habitat areas, a sanctuary for wildlife too.”

This landscape construction project brought together elements of sustainability, plant selection and water usage to build a beautiful wetland which interacts harmoniously on all levels and enhances the natural environment. The project also won Landscaping Victoria awards for Use of Plants in the Landscape, Landscape Management and Maintenance and the Natural Built Environment.

Tags Construction

Construction Hardscaping Maintenance Parks and Reserves Property Estates

Saltwater Coast

Projects

Saltwater Coast

Location

Point Cook

Service Used

Landscape Construction & Garden Maintenance

Client

Aveo Group

The Saltwater Coast Estate Project was completed by Australian Ecosystems (AE) acting as principal landscape contractor for Aveo Group at Point Cook. The project showcases our broad capabilities and vertically integrated services. Australian Ecosystems constructed the parkland reserve and wetland landscape, and we finished construction works at the end of 2019.

AE completed a variety of formal landscaping works including paving, edging, steps, rock work, installation of concrete seat walls for the amphitheatre, design and construction of a timber board walk, seats, goals posts, bollards and picnic setting. We also supplied and installed of over 5000m2 of Instant Kikuyu Turf and over 9000m2 of hydroseeding using our own equipment. We planted and guarded the wetland plants in the constructed wetland, supplying plants from our native plant nursery.

The wetland has been designed to intercept, retain and treat large volumes of stormwater from the estate and surrounding areas, and to filter out pollutants and improve water quality. The wetland delivers additional benefits including urban cooling, habitat for local wildlife, and public amenity. The results have been outstanding with the site being awarded PC by Melbourne Water and council without defect. We are currently working through a 2 year contract to maintain all elements of the project. The site has under 5% weed cover and over 95% survival rates of all plantings, and is delivering beautiful public amenity for the Point Cook Community.

AE also performs landscape and garden maintenance at Saltwater Estate in Point Cook. The scope of works includes the maintenance of nature strips, trees, garden beds, reserves and wetlands that make up the Saltwater Coast. We perform nature strip maintenance, weeding, trimming vegetation and keeping paths clean. We maintain the estates garden beds, fertilising, mulching, pruning and managing weeds, pests and diseases. The Australian Ecosystems crew also performs daily rubbish and green waste removal.

Australian Ecosystem’s employs qualified horticulturists and landscapers who specialise in weed identification, so we not only keep paths and patios weed free, but we identify and remove undesirable weeds from waterways and wetlands to ensure they stay healthy. We also proactively replace under-performing plants with stock from our native plant nursery in Bangholme.

Scope of Construction Works:

Paving, edges, steps, rock work plus installation of concrete seat walls for the amphitheatre
Design and construction of a timber board walk, seats, goals posts, bollards and picnic setting
Supply and install of over 5000m2 of Instant Kikuyu Turf and over 9000m2 of hydroseeding
Supply and Installation of over 18,000 aquatic and ephemeral plants for the constructed wetland
Supply and install of over 42,000 assorted plants and trees for the surrounding landscape and garden beds
2 year maintenance period

Scope of Maintenance Works:

Nature Strip Maintenance
Garden bed Maintenance
Rubbish Removal
Tree Maintenance
Mulching – Pest and
Disease Control
Weeding – Waste Removal
Plant Replacement

Tags Construction, Maintenance

Construction Furniture, Structures & Playgrounds Wetlands and Creeks

Edgars Creek

Post author By Heidy Kasuma
Post date June 30, 2022

Projects

Edgars Creek

Location

Wollert

Service Used

Landscape Construction & Maintenance

Architect

Spiire

Client

Lendlease

Australian Ecosystems (AE) constructed several sections of Edgars Creek for Lendlease. The project demonstrates AE’s expertise in landscape construction and ecological services, particularly in the area of water treatment, as well as our skill and attention to detail with formal landscaping works.

Following the design from Spiire, AE conducted minor earthworks which involved grading, drainage works and rock removal where necessary. AE also supplied and installed steel fixed bollards, a vehicle exclusion fence, paving, dry stone walls, public furniture, fitness equipment as well as a pedestrian bridge.

The creekline aspect of the project involved the propagation, supply and installation of plants locally indigenous to the basalt plains for the terrestrial zones, the creekline zones and the bioretention treatment ponds. These ponds were designed to filter pollutants and improve stormwater quality as it flows down Edgars Creek. The creekline has additional benefits including urban cooling, habitat for local wildlife, and public amenity.

To ensure compliance with Melbourne Water’s Wetland Design Manual, all shallow, deep and submerged marsh species were grown and supplied in 600cc plant formats, and all ephemeral plants were supplied in 93cc hiko cells or tubestock. The outcome speaks for itself with the site being awarded PC by Melbourne Water without defect. AE received a 2 year contract for maintenance services and the site is now a thriving ecosystem and a beautiful parkland reserve for the Wollert Community.

Scope of Works:

Minor Earthworks (Grading, drainage and rock removal)
Supply and install of steel fixed bollards, paving and vehicle exclusion fence
Supply and install of dry stone wall, public furniture, fitness equipment and pedetrian bridge
Supply and install of +3000m2 of hydroseed mulch
Supply and install of +300 trees for tree reserve (+ arbocultural assessment)
Supply and install of +130,000 tubestock plants for creek channel zone
Supply and install of +1,900 tubestock and +1,700 600cc plants for water treatment assets
Supply and install of +9000 shrubs and ground cover plants (150mm pots)
2 year maintenance contract

Tags Construction, Maintenance

Construction Infrastructure Maintenance

Level Crossings

Post author By Heidy Kasuma
Post date June 30, 2022

Projects

Level Crossings

Location

Melbourne, Victoria

Service Used

Infrastructure,Maintenance,Landscaping Services

Australian Ecosystems has undertaken landscaping services on more than 10 train stations and crossings as part of the Victorian Level Crossing Removal Projects, working across a number of Level Crossing Removal packages for Tier One landscape contractors. Australian Ecosystems have undertaken the following landscaping elements:

Final site preparation, spoil removal, cultivation and subgrade preparation
Installation of topsoil and various mineral mulch treatments
Installation of timber, steel concrete and rock work elements nd street furniture
Sourcing and propagation of a range of plant formats including tubestock, 150mm, 300mm and advanced trees
Installation of turf and artificial turf, direct seeding, hydroseeding and grass establishment
Design and installation of irrigation
Maintenance of all landscapes for 2 years

Australian Ecosystems have worked within tight construction windows in a cooperative manner with head contractors and various sub contractors working concurrently on the sites, to deliver the landscapes to a very high standard and to accelerated timeframes in order to meet open days and deadlines.

Australian Ecosystems HSEQ systems are fully compliant with the LXRA processes and all staff working on the projects have inducted onto the sites and completed all HSEQ requirements including obtaining their Rail Card known as Train Track Safety Awareness (TLIF2080 Safely access the rail corridor). Australian Ecosystems have also worked in a very safe manner, to complete works in active rail corridors while eliminating risk to staff and the public. The end result has been high quality landscapes and finishes which are improving the safety and liveability of Melburnians.

Tags Construction, Maintenance

Construction Furniture, Structures & Playgrounds Maintenance Property Estates

Enclave Estate

Post author By Heidy Kasuma
Post date June 30, 2022

Projects

Enclave Estate

Location

Ascot Vale

Service Used

Landscaping and Maintenance

Australian Ecosystems constructed a large inner city playground and wetland landscape at Enclave Estate in Ascot Vale for Mirvac. Our works included topsoiling, turf establishment, advanced tree planting, concrete footpaths, construction of an extensive childrens playground, bbq area and structures, and supply and installation of plants for the wetlands and formal garden beds.

Tags Construction, Maintenance

Construction Furniture, Structures & Playgrounds Maintenance Property Estates

The Cape

Post author By Heidy Kasuma
Post date June 30, 2022

Projects

The Cape

Location

Cape Paterson

Service Used

Estate Landscaping

Client

The Cape Sustainable Housing Estate

Project Value

$2.5 Million

The construction of all of the landscape elements of The Cape is testament to the versatility and expertise of Australian Ecosystems. The Cape is considered one of the most sustainable housing developments in Australia, so calling on AE to construct a beautiful and sustainable landscape for the residents, flora, and fauna of Cape Paterson was a logical choice. This award-winning estate overlooks the Bass Strait on Victoria’s Bass Coast, and is home to kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, wombats and healthy populations of frog, bird, insect and reptile species.

Our teams have designed, constructed and installed kilometres of granitic sand coastal paths, wetlands, waterways and habitat areas, a large nature-play and adventure playground, fitness stations, an off leash dog park, streetscapes, parklands, water treatment swales and much more. Our team wrote the species lists, collected a seed bank from the local coastal vegetation, propagated and planted over 100,000 locally indigenous plants for the streetscapes, wetlands and habitat restoration areas, and have set up systems to protect these establishing plants from grazing during their establishment period. We have been working our way through the various stages of the estate, including the formal streetscapes and parklands and environmentally sensitive interface areas with the coast.

Australian Ecosystems have constructed the first stage of a community farm that is water efficient and low maintenance, producing tonnes of fresh vegetables and herbs for the local community. The off-leash dog park and shelter includes water features, habitat areas, zones for different types of dogs and an all-weather shelter. The creekline and waterways through the estate have been transformed from a narrow drain to a series of ponds and waterways rich in habitat for birdlife. We constructed wetlands specifically for the international migratory species Japanese Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii) that have been taking up residence in the wetland each Summer. Over 90 species of birds have been counted at The Cape so far, as well as a wide variety of other fauna.

AE continues to provide ongoing maintenance and landscaping services at The Cape.

Scope of Works:

Construction of Community Farm
Supply and install of 120,000 native plants for revegetation & street amenity
Supply and install of 20,000 tubestock aquatic plants for constructed wetland
Playground construction
Creekline construction
Paths, rock work, public furniture
Dog park, public gym
Ongoing landscaping services for the entire estate

“The team from Australian Ecosystems have been invaluable to the success of our project. Their knowledge, attention to detail and can-do attitude have provided us with a landscape that is nothing short of stunningg” – Clint Hare, General Manager, Live at The Cape

Tags Construction, Maintenance

Construction Furniture, Structures & Playgrounds Hardscaping Maintenance Property Estates

Mullum Creek Estate

Projects

Mullum Creek Estate

Location

Donvale

Service Used

Landscape Construction &
Maintenance

Client

Mullum Pty Ltd

Architect

CDA Design Group

Located along the western bank of the Mullum Mullum Creek in Donvale, Mullum Creek Estate is a sustainable development where clever landscape design is being used to encourage residents to engage with the natural environment. Embedded in the vision for the estate is a respect for the existing environment and topography as well as environmental and ecological sensitivity and adaptability to a changing climate. This broad vision has been reflected throughout the project’s journey, from the design principles implemented by CDA landscape architects to the landscape construction by Australian Ecosystems.

Australian Ecosystems completed the landscape construction of stage 1 which included the supply and install of over 39,000 plants for gardens beds, a stormwater treatment wetland and a frog pond, as well as the installation of public furniture, fencing, paving, grassing and a two year maintenance schedule.

Stage 1 of Mullum Creek Estate won Best Natural Built Landscape at the Landscape Victoria Awards – Judge’s comments – “The project at Mullum Creek in Donvale is a fantastic exemplar of a natural built landscape. The hydrology and ecology of the site has been well-considered, with runoff from the development site treated by a constructed wetland before it enters the nearby Mullum creek. Indigenous plantings have extended the remnant vegetation into the landscape and wetland, from seed previously collected from the site. Furniture, fences and bollards were milled on-site from timber that was already on the property. Much thought has been put into making the Mullum Creek development a beautiful, sustainable landscape.”

AE also constructed Stage 2 of the estate which included another 35,000 plants in the landscape in addition to paving, furniture installation, grassing, animal proof fencing and another 2 year maintenance contract.

Scope of Works:

Paving, grassing and the supply and installation of animal proof fences & gates
Supply and installation of public furniture milled on site using timber sourced on site.
Supply and install of Jute Mate – Supply and install of +43,000 tubestock plants for Garden Beds
Supply and install of +30,000 (HIKO Cell format) and +500 600CC plants for ephemeral and aquatic areas
Supply and install of retention walls using locally sourced Coldstream Rocks for cladding
2 year maintenance contract

Tags Construction, Maintenance