Sustainable Outdoors » Our Projects

Swan River Revegetation – Bank stabilisation

simon — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 07:23:50 +0000

Sustainable Outdoors has recently been working for the City of Swan to revegetate several banks along the Swan River in Viveash. The importance of this work was to protect the bank from eroding away due to the increased boat traffic on the river. The bank was reshaped using extra soil to decrease its gradient and a layer of erosion matting and coir logs to prevent the sand from washing away. After the restructuring had been done it was heavily planted with wetland sedges.

On the upper land areas Melaleucas were planted with our specially design planting auger. As seen in the pictures below water collects around the base of each plant. The compaction down below is broken to approximately 30cm and any weeds or weed seeds on the surface get scrapped away.

Our planting machine can increase planting speed reducing labour costs, clear weeds with no chemicals, break compaction and create water holding wells around each plant. It is also very practical to use this in areas that have been mulched, sandy soils and even clay.

Public Transport Authority – Bush regeneration Wellard

simon — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:40:15 +0000

The scope of work for this project was to revegetate 1 hectare of highly degraded land into a natural reserve using local endemic species. The projects involved plant 20,000 tube stock seedling and direct seeding over this area with 4kg of native seed, there were also several bush tracks leading to the 1 ha clearing that needed to be seeded. A rabbit proof fence was installed to prevent revegetation efforts from attack.

The long awaiting break to Winter this year (2009) couldn’t have been more needing.

Small native garden installation / Verge Garden

simon — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:35:58 +0000

This verge garden was created using drought tolerant native Western Australian plants and there is no need for any irrigation system.

Looking through the photos you’ll see the ground being prepared by rotary hoeing soil amendments including Compost, Bentonite clay and Zeolite into the existing sand. The benefits of amending sandy soils with these ingredients helps to kick start the biological life into action with compost, increase the water holding capacity with Bentonite and lock in and store soluble nutrients into the root zone with the Zeolite.

A thick layer of mulch has been added to protect the soil from the hot Summer sun.

And finally planted with ground covers, small shrubs and strappy leaf grasses.

Eclipse Resourses Landfill Revegetation

simon — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:57:51 +0000

Over the last 2 year Sustainable Outdoors has planted close to 14,000 plants on some very cleverly constructed golf course like mounds that will soon become park lands for local residents who buy land in the area. The plants chosen for the project are local endemic species found in the adjacent bushland.

The site was first prepared by covering the exposed landfill material with approximately 1m-1.5m of clean top soil, then heavily mulched with street tree and recycled mulch. The plants where then augered into position using a specially designed blade fitted to a single person operated petrol auger. The blade first spreads the mulch away, then drills and breaks the soil compaction below. Planting crews then followed.This produced a quick and effective method with quality results.

Bibra Lake Commercial Subdivision

simon — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:00:46 +0000

Landcorp’s first sustainable commercial subdivision is heading in the right direction. It is aimed at being a waterwise, eco-friendly development that promotes the use of local endemic plants as an alternative to grass, waterwise drip irrigation systems across the board and energy and water efficient building designs.

Sustainable Outdoors has been contracted to undertake all of the verge landscaping throughout the subdivision with the use of densely planted native ground covers, installation of drip irrigation systems and mulching. Our influence in the project has seen a wider selection of native plants to be used and the installation of high quality irrigation systems.

Once complete the verges will become a self-sustainable landscape once established, not needing as much water as grass, not needing regular mowing/maintenance or the use of fertiliser.

We look forward to our continued involvement with projects like this one that have greater outcomes.