Author: Heidy Kasuma

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

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.

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