Month: June 2022

Construction Infrastructure Maintenance

Mernda Rail Extension

Post author By Heidy Kasuma
Post date June 29, 2022

Projects

Mernda Rail Extension

Location

Mernda Train Line

Service Used

Construction and Maintenance

Client

John Holland

Australian Ecosystems (AE) was head landscaper for the Mernda Rail Extension project run by John Holland. We constructed the landscapes for 3 separate train station precincts – Marymede station, Hawkstowe Station and Mernda Station, as well as the 2 train line corridors in between the station precincts.

AE supplied and installed over 40,000 trees and over 111,000 shrubs and ground cover plants. We also supplied and installed mulch, topsoil and conducted hydroseeding. For this project AE was compliant with the Rail Industry Worker (RIW) Program which allows our staff to work on rail and infrastructure projects. We maintained the required competencies, had frequent training and ensured the work was performed by qualified staff. This project was a huge success with the site being awarded PC by John Holland without defect. We received a 2 year contract for maintenance services. These commercial landscapes beautifully compliment the new station precincts and provide a beautiful nature corridor along the train lines.

Scope of Work

Site preparation and setout
Supply and install of +150 100L pot mature trees
Supply and install of +650 300mm pot mature trees
Supply and install of +39,000 tubestock trees
Supply and install of +6,000 75mm shrubs and ground cover plants
Supply and install of +104,000 150mm shrubs & ground cover plants
Supply and install of +34,000m2 of mulch
Supply and install of 135,000m2 of topsoil
100,000m2 of Hydroseeding
2 year maintenance contract

Tags Construction, Maintenance

Construction

Mt Atkinson Estate

Projects

Mt Atkinson Estate

Location

Truganina

Service Used

Landscape Construction & Service

Architect

TBLD Architects

Client

Stockland Living

This project at Mt Atkinson Estate, in the West of Melbourne, centres around a 3.5 hectare wetland complex. This wetland was fully constructed on an excavated quarry site, which required topsoiling and soil amelioration. TBLD Architects selected our 600cc 12-cell native aquatic plants, over conventional tubestock to plant out the wetland. This is due to the harsh conditions in the area, as the larger format allow the plants to flourish more rapidly, reducing competition with weeds and creating an ‘instant effect’ landscape.

Our nursery team propagated and grew to 600cc size around 135,000 plants. Our landscape construction team ameliorated the topsoil, jutematted and mulched, and installed these 135,000 plants into the landscape. Large boulders, rocks, and logs were installed around and throughout the wetland to provide perches for waterbirds and habitat for insects and other creatures.

Australian Ecosystems also constructed the concrete edging and planted out the streetscapes of the estate adjascent to the wetland site. This included installing instant turf, planting advanced trees and setting up passive irrigation. We also installed bollards and cables for fencing throughout the site. A stand of remnant sugar gums was retained onsite, which were inspected by arborist & zoologist for conservation values, and appropriate maintenance of existing vegetation was undertaken.

Scope of Works:

Mulching and jute matting
Soil amelioration of existing topsoil
135,000 plants grown & installed
3.5 hectare wetland site planted
Planting streetscapes & trees around site
Concrete edging
Bollard and cable installation
Remnant vegetation maintenance
Habitat rock & log installation

Tags Construction

Construction Wetlands and Creeks

Clyde Creek

Post author By Heidy Kasuma
Post date June 15, 2022

Projects

Clyde Creek

Location

Black Oak

Service Used

Landscape Maintenance & Construction Wetland

Clyde Creekline Restoration

It’s not often that a group of projects spans almost a decade, culminating in a connected landscape that encompasses several kilometers of restored waterways, habitat and creekline. Australian Ecosystems has collaborated with Melbourne Water, Villawood Properties, MDGLA, Stockland Living, Spiire and more to turn large sections of Clyde Creek into a wildlife & biodiversity corridor and a great space for nature and local communities to enjoy.

AE have landscaped and revegetated several sets of wetlands along this creekline that filter stormwater from adjacent housing estates, before it enters Westernport Bay. Over a 10 year period we have collected seed and cuttings, propagated and planted over 500,000 locally indigenous plants across a series of sections of this waterway in Melbourne’s south east; including Edgebrook and Delaray Estates, the Cascade wetland complex and others.

This multi-year project has enabled us to showcase leading wetland standards, achieving 80% plant coverage across the water treatment zones, with under 5% weed cover and over 95% survival rates of all plantings. Our nursery produced plants in formats to comply with Melbourne Water Wetland design manual, and we protected plants from rabbit and bird grazing as they established. All sections have been completed to the satisfaction of clients and responsible authorities.

Thanks to all of our partners for this wonderful project, and particularly Shannon at Villawood for your participation in this video that draws it all together. We are passionate about improving Melbourne’s waterways for biodiversity, water quality, urban cooling and recreational benefits, and we are very proud of this project at Clyde Creek.

Wetland Highlight: Delaray Estate

Delaray Housing Estate in Clyde North is a Villawood Properties project that features a very large constructed wetland, which 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.

Following the landscape plan designed by MDG Landscape Architects, Australian Ecosystems(AE) were contracted to collect seed, propagate and plant over 60,000 aquatic and ephemeral plants for the project, as well as install and ameliorate topsoil, install jute mat and install guarding enclosures to protect vulnerable species from bird grazing. AE have also been contracted to maintain the constructed wetland complex for 2 years, in readiness to hand over the asset to Melbourne Water at the end of the maintenance period.

The wetland and plant formats were designed to be compliant with Melbourne Water’s Wetland Design Manual. To ensure compliance with the 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 plant list included large numbers of Water Ribbons (Cycnogeton procerum) which is a very important wetland filtration and frog habitat species, and this species is also very palatable to several waterfowl species including Purple Swamp Hens (Porphyrio porphyrio) and Black Swans (Cygnus atratus)

Site preparation, topsoiling, jutematting and planting works were undertaken over the Spring and Summer of 2018/19, with all planting works completed by April 2019. The results have been outstanding, with plants achieving 80% coverage by Spring 2019, and the site being awarded PC by Melbourne Water without defect. The site is currently being maintained by Australian Ecosystems, with under 5% weed cover and over 95% survival rates of all plantings. The site is now a thriving ecosystem, and is a great centrepiece of Delaray Housing Estate and enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.

What our clients said about us:
“Australian Ecosystems has delivered a best practice wetland at Delaray, and the results have been outstanding, exceeding our expectations for the site. The wetlands are establishing beautifully and are now a great asset to Delaray Estate. The results at Delaray are a testament to the expertise, professionalism and enthusiasm that Australian Ecosystems bring to wetland and drainage landscape projects.”

– Rory Costello, Executive Director, Villawood Properties.

Tags Construction, Maintenance

Construction Wetlands and Creeks

Thornhill Park Estate

Post author By Heidy Kasuma
Post date June 15, 2022

Projects

Thornhill Park Estate

Location

Rockbank

Service Used

Landscape Construction

Stage 1

Architect: Spiire
Client: Wel.Co

Scope of works

Paving, decking, fencing, seating, rockwork, viewing platforms,
Installation of topsoil and 6060m2 of Grassing
Supply and Install of Jute Mat, Supply and Install of 183 trees (45L)
Supply and Install of +10,000 150mm pot plants (terrestrial)
Supply and install of +7500 tubestock plants (ephemeral)
Supply and install of 18,000 600CC plants (aquatic)
Installation of netting to protect juvenile plants from waterfowl grazing
2 years Maintenance

This public park, open space and wetland landscape construction project was completed by Australian Ecosystems(AE) acting as head landscape contractor for Welsh Group at Thornhill Park Estate in the North West of Melbourne. The project features a large area of parkland surrounding a constructed stormwater treatment wetland in the North West of Melbourne.

Following the landscape plan designed by Spiire, Australian Ecosystems were contracted to install topsoil, hydroseeding, paving, edging, structures, fencing and rockwork. Australian Ecosystems also installed gym equipment, a viewing deck, bike racks and cyclist benches. AE were also contracted to collect seed, propagate and plant over 35,000 aquatic, ephemeral and terrestrial plants for the project, and to install advanced trees. We were also contracted to maintain the landscape and wetlands for 2 years, in readiness to hand over the asset to Melbourne Water and council at the end of the maintenance period.

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 wetland and plant formats were designed to be compliant with Melbourne Water’s Wetland Design Manual.

To ensure compliance with the 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. The site was maintained by Australian Ecosystems, with under 5% weed cover and over 95% survival rates of all plantings. The site is now a thriving ecosystem and a beautiful space to visit.

Stage 2

Following our work on planting out Stage 1 of this project in Rockbank, we returned to prepare a large section of the waterways. Working with Wel.co and Winslow, we ameliorated the soil and installed around 10 hectares of jutematting.

This project is designed by Spiire, and the waterways are maintained by Melbourne Water.

Scope of works

Soil amelioration and topsoil conditioning
Installation of a massive 10 hectares of jute mat
Prepared site for planting

Tags Construction, Maintenance

Uncategorized

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